As the Philadelphia region remained under a winter weather advisory for possible rush hour snowfall Friday, forecasters continued to look toward what stands to be a more impactful storm Sunday into Monday.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly’s advisory for Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and northern Delaware was slated to remain in effect from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Forecasters expect a coating to about an inch of snow, though localized amounts in some areas could approach two inches, said Nick Guzzo, a meteorologist with the weather service.
Due to the timing of the storm, commuters may see their drive home impacted by slippery road conditions. PennDot, meanwhile, has been monitoring weather conditions, and sent out trucks early Friday to brine major roadways in the Philadelphia area — such as interstates 476, 76, 422, and 95 — to help with traction should slippery conditions develop, spokesperson Robyn Briggs said.
“We would like to remind motorists to please slow down,” amid possibly slick road conditions, Briggs added. “Slowing down is probably your best friend out on the roads in inclement weather.”
The weather service expects Friday’s snow to move out of the area around 9 or 10 p.m., after which temperatures are expected to drop into the mid to low 20s. That cooling trend will continue through the weekend, with highs in the mid-30s.
A likely second round of snow is expected to arrive in the area late Sunday, according to the weather service. Forecasters remained unsure of exactly how much snow might fall, and where precisely larger totals would occur, but at least some “light to moderate” accumulation is likely, with a potential for more significant impacts compared to Friday, Guzzo said.
That system, according to the weather service’s Friday afternoon forecast, is likely to bring roughly two to four inches of snow to the region before departing late Monday. Where the heaviest bands of snowfall will set up, however, remains uncertain.
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Either way, with temperatures expected to fall to highs in the mid-30s in the coming days, we’re likely to see whatever snow we get between Friday and Monday stick around for quite a while.
“It’s going to stay on the colder side, so I wouldn’t expect too much melting between” potential snowfalls, Guzzo said.
PennDot, Briggs, said, is also preparing for the snow forecast to come Sunday into Monday. Crews will be dispatched early Sunday morning in advance of that storm, and they will again brine roadsprior to the expected snowfall, Briggs said.
The PennDot district that covers the Philadelphia region has 182 trucks capable of preparing the area’s roadways for winter storms. If needed, the agency can also access an additional 250 trucks as part of its relationships with area contractors, Briggs said.
“You never know what the weather will bring,” she said.