7:00 AM | ****Mid-Atlantic mess with an ice buildup later tonight in many areas...an impact on Friday AM commute****

6-Day forecast for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metro region

Today

Much colder today with mainly cloudy skies, chance of some snow and/or sleet at times, highs in the mid 30’s; N-NE winds around 5-10 mph

Tonight

Sleet or rain changing to sleet later this evening, a transition of sleet to freezing rain later tonight and there can be a buildup of ice on untreated surfaces, watch for slippery spots late, cold, lows near 30 degrees

Friday

Mainly cloudy, becoming windy, freezing rain still possible early in the N/W suburbs, watch for slippery spots, plain rain likely by later in the morning as temperatures climb above freezing reaching late day highs in the low-to-mid 40’s

Friday Night             

Partly cloudy, very cold, late night lows in the lower 20’s

Saturday

Mainly sunny, cold, mid 30’s

Sunday

Mainly sunny, chilly, mid 40’s

Monday

Partly sunny, very cold, near 35 degrees

Tuesday

Mainly sunny, chilly, mid 40’s

Discussion              

Much colder air has moved into the Mid-Atlantic region following the passage of a cold frontal system and moisture will head this way in two different waves.  During the day, any snow and/or sleet that falls is likely to be scattered and generally on the lighter side, but as a stronger low pressure system heads our way early tonight, the precipitation shield will expand and intensify across Pennsylvania.  There can be sleet or rain changing to sleet later this evening to be followed by a period of freezing rain. The freezing rain can cause a buildup of ice later tonight of up to a quarter of an inch on untreated surfaces and this always raises the concern of power outages.  The Friday AM commute is likely to be an icy mess in the N/W suburbs of Philly as temperatures will hover for awhile near the freezing mark.  Plain rain is possible later tomorrow morning in the suburbs as temperatures climb above freezing reaching into the 40’s later tomorrow.  

Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Arcfield Weather