February 05, 2016
Just one day after the snow disappeared from area lawns, it was back.
Snow started falling overnight, heavy in some places at times. It was lying on lawns, but not so much on roads, though caution is urged for those driving during the morning commute – or making their way to Wing Bowl 24 at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia. Many roads will be slick.
As a result, a number of schools in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties and South Jersey are opening on a two-hour delay Friday morning. (See list.)
The National Weather Service has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for Philadelphia, its suburbs and South Jersey through the Friday morning commute.
Between 1-3 inches of total snow accumulation was expected across the region as temperatures dropped overnight and precipitation that began as rain then froze.
Temperatures will climb to around 44 degrees by Friday afternoon, with northward winds reaching between 10-15 mph and gusts up to 20 mph.
Due to the mixed precipitation, drivers are advised to exercise caution and watch out for slick spots during the early commute and through the morning hours. Travel difficulties are expected on some snow-covered secondary roadways.
In South Jersey, Camden County officials said preparations were underway Thursday night to respond to the snow and keep roadways as clear as possible.
“We could see up to 3 inches of snow on the ground by morning which will impact the morning commute, so please plan accordingly,” said Camden County Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, in a statement. “Our public works employees will be on the job to keep roadways passable, but we need everyone to remain extra cautious behind the wheel. Our equipment is prepped and trucks are loaded with product to address any and all situations that may arise.”
Officials advised residents to reach out to their utilities in the event of isolated outages and downed power lines.
“As always, when the weather turns hazardous we recommend that motorists remain cautious and give themselves extra time to reach their destinations,” Shin Angulo said. “Anyone on the roadways during these times should be prepared to encounter slick road conditions. Remember to leave at least six car lengths behind our DPW vehicles while they work, and move any cars off the street and into a driveway while we continue our plowing operations.”
Forecasters are also tracking the possibility of a winter storm that could hit the region late Monday into Tuesday of next week.
Here's the five-day forecast.
Friday: Snow likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 44. Breezy, with a northward wind 10 to 20 m.p.h. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 29. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west after midnight.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 m.p.h. in the morning. At night, mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. South wind 3 to 6 m.p.h.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39. A chance of rain between 8 p.m. and midnight, then a chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Tuesday: A chance of snow before 8 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow between 8 a.m. and noon, then a chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
