Philadelphia and surrounding areas are hunkering down as they face a significant winter storm, with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly issuing a Winter Storm Warning until 1 PM EST Monday. According to the NWS warning, the region can expect "Heavy snow with mixed precipitation expected." With snow and sleet accumulations predicted between 7 and 13 inches, along with around one-tenth of an inch of ice, travel conditions are set to be precarious, especially during the Monday morning commute.
The weather service reports blizzard-like conditions with snowfall rates of "Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour this morning into the early afternoon." The immediate forecast warns of a sleet and snow mixture which could be heavy at times, with a high near 31 degrees, as per the NWS warning. However, with gusts as high as 25 mph, the wind chill is expected to drop significantly, impacting visibility and creating challenging conditions for those out on the roads. The storm is expected to shift to freezing rain and sleet later in the evening, further complicating travel with new ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.2 of an inch possible.
"The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute," states the NWS warning, underscoring the potential severity of the storm's effect on the region. Local authorities recommend staying off the roads unless necessary, and if travel is unavoidable, suggest that residents keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in their vehicles. Residents can obtain the latest road conditions for their state by calling 5 1 1.
As one looks ahead to the week, the weather outlook seems to gradually improve. Monday shows a possibility of snow before 7 am, but the rest of the day is expected to clear up, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 29 degrees. Although the gusts will potentially hit as high as 25 mph, the winds are forecast to carry less of a chill, moving westerly. The nights following the storm are expected to be partly cloudy and cold, with lows hovering around 8 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Residents can look forward to clearer skies by midweek, as stormy conditions are expected to subside. Forecasts call for mostly sunny weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, with daytime highs near the low 20s and nighttime lows dipping into the single digits. From Thursday through Saturday, the region should see a mix of sun and clouds, accompanied by gradually rising temperatures reaching the mid-20s by the weekend.
