As Temperatures Warm Up, Piles Of Snow Start Slow Melt
By Kate Bilo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- What a difference a few hours can make!
Many of us woke up this morning to fresh falling snow, but we finished out the afternoon in sunshine and with climbing temperatures.
Warmer air is moving in as we go through the next several days, so say goodbye to the huge piles of snow outside your window - by the weekend, a lot of it will be gone. The good news is that it looks like a gradual warming rather than a rapid ascent in temperatures, so while we will still monitor the chance for minor flooding, it doesn't look like a major flood event is underway.
One near-term concern for tonight will be the development of fog. This is called "advection fog," and it's caused by a mass of warm air moving over the colder ground/snowpack. Visibilities may be low overnight and into the early morning hours, so drive carefully and leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you, as it can come up on you quickly!
One weak disturbance will cross the area during the midday hours tomorrow, bringing the threat for rain showers during the late morning through midday time frame. There is the chance that if the rain moves in early enough, it could freeze on some surfaces where temperatures are below freezing, mainly in spots across the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. A Freezing Rain Advisory has been issued for those areas.
That rain should clear out quickly, and then high pressure builds in briefly for Thursday, bringing some sun and highs in the upper 40s.
On Thursday night, another warm front could spark a few showers, and then a cold front moves through early on Friday bringing rain and thunderstorms, some with strong wind gusts. Friday is very mild, with temperatures approaching 60, and then the warm air hangs on into the weekend - we'll enjoy a very pleasant Saturday with sunshine and highs in the mid-50s.
Finally, a break from the snow and harsh cold!