6:00 AM | ***Howling Arctic winds die down today...trouble begins tonight***
Paul Dorian
6-Day Philly Forecast
Today
A bitter cold start to the day with increasing clouds, winds can be a bit brisk early in the day, but much calmer conditions are expected this afternoon, highs in the mid 20’s
Tonight
Cloudy, quite cold, snow likely to develop by midnight and continue during the overnight hours, an accumulation of an inch or so possible by daybreak, lows in the lower 20's
Saturday
Cloudy, cold, early morning snow transitions to a period of sleet and/or freezing rain for the mid-to-late morning time period and then to plain rain by around mid-day, there can be an additional snow accumulation of an inch or so before the changeover resulting in a total snow accumulation of 1-3 inches from this event and a layer of icing on top, temperatures later in the day can climb to the mid-to-upper 40’s with more rain likely during the afternoon hours
Saturday Night
Cloudy, chilly, an evening shower possible then more rain likely towards morning, low 40's
Sunday
Cloudy, chilly, more rain likely which could change briefly to sleet and/or snow early at night, the greatest chance for that potential changeover will be to the north and west, low 50's for highs early in the day
Monday
Partly sunny, breezy, very cold, near 30 degrees
Tuesday
Partly sunny, still quite cold, mid 30’s
Wednesday
Mainly sunny, milder, low 40's
Discussion
Those howling Arctic winds of yesterday will calm down today as strong high pressure moves right over of the Mid-Atlantic region. With the high pressure system moving right above us, the pressure gradient will relax and this, in turn, will lead to diminishing winds. This bitter cold, dense Arctic air mass will begin to retreat to the north this evening as the high pressure system shifts off the coast. Moisture will arrive here tonight before the Arctic air has a chance to fully retreat; consequently, snow is likely to break out by midnight and continue in the overnight hours. Accumulations of an inch or so is possible here by daybreak and then the snow will transition to a period of sleet and/or freezing rain during the mid-morning and ultimately to all (plain) rain by mid-day. Another inch or so of snow can accumulate during the early morning hours before the changeover resulting in a total snowfall estimate of 1-3 inches during this event with the higher amounts in that range in the northern and western suburbs of Philly. Temperatures will actually climb well up into the 40’s during the afternoon hours on Saturday and there is likely to be some more rainfall, but it should then slacken off for awhile tomorrow evening. Another round of rain is going to return for Sunday as low pressure forms along the next Arctic frontal system which will be approaching us from the Midwest. It is possible that the rain changes to sleet and/or snow for a brief time early Sunday night as the next Arctic air mass filters into the region with the best chance for that changeover in the northern and western suburbs. Following the passage of this next Arctic frontal system, the beginning of next week promises to very cold for the middle of December. Longer term, there are signs for a warmer weather pattern again as we get to the latter part of December and early part of January.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Vencore, Inc.
vencoreweather.com