SHORT TERM FORECAST
TODAY: Cold with sunshine and some clouds. High: 30
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with snow that develops by sunrise, down to an inch. Low: 21
THURSDAY: Cloudy and cold with snow of varying intensity, late in the day or at night mixed with sleet to the south and east. Storm total accumulation up to 5-9 inches early Friday. High: 29 Low: 27
SUMMARY FORECASTS
After battling freezing rain and rain from Monday evening to early Tuesday morning, we were treated to a rare February thaw on Tuesday afternoon. While short-lived, it was nice to see some sunshine and 40-degree temperatures work together to melt some of our stubborn snow pack, which has been on the ground for over two weeks now.
Don’t expect much more melting for the rest of the week though, as the incoming cold last night prompted a rapid refreeze with temperatures dropping into the higher teens and lower 20s. As the sun returns today, the milder air won’t, replaced with peaks closer to 30 degrees on a cold but dry day.
And true to the theme of February, a storm every few days, another winter storm is on its way to arrive Thursday and last Friday. It will be colder than its predecessor, meaning snow accumulation is expected across the area from Thursday morning. While there may be some mixing issues with sleet and sleet toward the Delaware Valley and the coast, for most of us there is likely snow that can be plowed, expected to impact the week’s journey.
We dry out for the weekend, when the sky is cold again for Saturday and Sunday, followed by another chance of snow early next week on Monday. If you’re counting, there are 32 long days until spring.
DETAILED FORECAST
TODAY AND TONIGHT
Wednesday is a much colder day than Tuesday, but still a dry day with sunshine that gives way to some clouds later in the day. The wind will be light, but it will be cold with maximum temperatures around 30 degrees despite the sunshine. As a result, don’t expect much melting.
The clouds will thicken at night with some snow from the south as we get closer to sunrise on Thursday. Night lows should drop back into the lower 20s.
THURSDAY
Ready or not… here comes our next winter storm. Expect snow to develop early in the morning and become stable through the morning until the first part of the afternoon, when a good build-up is expected.
Later in the afternoon the snow gets lighter and more intermittently, and may mix with some sleet and sleet, especially south and east of the Lehigh Valley. Mixing is most likely from the Interstate 95 corridor to the coast, with a light mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain expected until Thursday night as well, but more of an on-again, off-again lighter variety.
FRIDAY
Our storm is likely to last longer than initially expected and now Friday, with clouds and the occasional light snow, perhaps mixed with sleet and sleet closer to shore. Any snow should be light and especially the first half of the day, with a gradual drying trend later on our Friday, although the clouds remain in place.
Total accumulation appears to be about 5-9 “for much of the area, with 2-5” south and east of Interstate 95 where mixing is more common.
THIS WEEKEND
For the first time of the month, a whole February weekend looks dry with lots of sun, but also with quite cold temperatures. Expect mostly sunny skies with a brisk and cold breeze and only high temperatures around freezing on Saturdays, then partly sunny skies with lighter winds on Sundays, but only in the mid 30s.
Another chance of snow could follow early next week, with possibly another round of snow on Monday.
FOLLOW THE WEATHER: