Philadelphians might want to keep their rain boots and snow gear handy as the city braces for a mix of winter weather this holiday week. The National Weather Service's Philadelphia office reports overcast skies with temperatures hovering around 37°F this morning. With humidity at 62%, and the barometer reading 30.29 in, visibility remains clear at 10 miles despite the chill in the air.
The forecast for today includes a likely mix of rain and snow before 1 PM, turning to a slight chance of rain afterward until 3 PM. With a 70% chance of precipitation and light accumulations of snow expected, residents should prepare to possibly deal with less than a half inch of snow. The south wind is anticipated to shift southwest in the afternoon, clocking in around 5 mph.
As nighttime descends, skies are predicted to clear up partially, dropping to a low around 36°F. However, those planning evening outings should be aware of the west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph, potentially gusting up to 20 mph. Looking ahead to Wednesday, sunshine is to briefly return, with a high near 46°F and northwest winds reaching 10 to 15 mph, gusts may intensify to as high as 30 mph, as detailed by the NWS.
Moving into Christmas Day, there's a slight 20% chance of rain before 1 PM. The mostly cloudy skies will prevail, with a high near 44°F, as the wind takes a more northwesterly direction by the afternoon. That same wind is then expected to eventually calm down by Wednesday night, which brings in cooler air and a low around 30°F. This cooling pattern is to set the stage for Friday's weather, where snow is likely to start falling after 1 PM, signaling a high chance at an 80% of precipitation.
The tumultuous weather only continues into the weekend, with Friday night forecasts painting a messy mix of rain, snow, and freezing rain before 1 AM, leading to a 90% chance of precipitation and a low temperature around 29°F. Saturday may bring more chances of rain and snow with cloudy skies and a high near 39°F. By Sunday, rain is again likely, with a gloomy high of 47°F and a 70% probability of precipitation, rounding out a wet end to the week.
For more detailed updates, Philadelphians can check out the National Weather Service at NWS Philadelphia.
