1:15 PM | **Still a long way to go in the snowstorm**

Discussion

Short wave energy is just now rounding the base of an upper level long wave trough and it is causing significant intensification of a low pressure system near the Mid-Atlantic coastline. The latest 12-hour 500 mb height change map (above) depicts the location of the center of the short wave energy (marked with an X) over Kentucky which is headed to the east coast. This key upper level system will provide many hours of strong upward motion in the Mid-Atlantic region and the result will be snow, heavy at times, right into the evening hours from DC-to-Philly-to-NYC. As the low pressure system slowly pulls to the northeast and intensifies, the snow will linger and linger - not ending until late evening in DC, after midnight in the Philly metro region, and towards morning in the NYC metro region. Bottom line, heavy snow accumulations of 8-12 inches can be expected from Philly-to-Boston with slightly lesser amounts in the northern suburbs of DC (6-10"). There will be a tendency for the lower amounts in this range of 8-12” to occur in the northwest sections (e.g., Upper Montgomery County) and the higher amounts to the southeast (e.g., South Philly). Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, this storm will act as a true "coastal" in that places from State College to the Poconos will likely receive only a few inches of snow. Quite an amazing winter weather pattern has only just begun and it will continue for the next 7 to 10 days or so with multiple Arctic air outbreaks and snow threats.