7:00 AM | *****High impact winter storm gets underway this afternoon...sleet becomes a major player...brunt of the storm hits early tonight*****

6-Day forecast for the Philadelphia, PA metro region

Today

Mostly cloudy, cold, snow is likely to arrive during the early-to-mid afternoon hours and it can become heavy at times by day’s end, the snow can mix with or change to sleet later in the day, winds will become increasingly strong, highs in the lower 30’s

Tonight

Mixed precipitation of snow and sleet will change back to all snow and it can fall heavy at times, windy, cold, lows in the mid 20’s

Thursday

Snow possible early then becomein partly sunny, there can be a snow shower or two during the afternoon, windy, cold, lower 30’s

Thursday Night

Mainly cloudy, very cold, upper teens for late night lows

Friday

Mainly sunny, cold, mid 30’s

Saturday

Partly sunny, cold, mid 30’s

Sunday

Partly sunny, not quite as cold, near 40 degrees

Monday

Partly sunny, chilly, lower 40’s

Discussion

Very strong and cold high pressure is anchored across southeastern Canada this morning and the day will begin cold and dry. Meanwhile, low pressure will be developing today along the Carolina coastline and then push northward to southeastern Virginia and then to the Delmarva Peninsula by early tonight. After that, the low will make a bit of a turn and push more to the northeast instead of to the north resulting in a position east of New Jersey by the late night hours. Snow is likely to break out during the early-to-mid afternoon hours and given the expected storm track, enough milder air will push in from the ocean to cause a mixing with or a changeover to sleet. Later tonight as the low shifts to the east, colder air should wrap around and cause a change back to all snow before the precipitation winds down early Thursday. The mixed precipitation will limit somewhat the total snow accumulations during this storm likely to the 4-8 inch range in Philly and 6-12 inch range in the northern and western suburbs. There can also be a buildup of ice in some areas later today with the expected extended period of sleet - low-level temperatures will be hard pressed to rise above freezing. One last note, watch for "mesoscale" banding during this storm which could result in heavy bursts of snow and/or sleet and possible "thunder snow" or "thunder sleet".

Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Perspecta, Inc.
perspectaweather.com