Two Storms To Watch, Then An Arctic Blast!
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - As we awaken from a post-Superbowl chips and dip slumber Monday, some will see snow on the ground! But for most of us, the chance for snow waits until Tuesday.
We are tracking two systems - one that's centered just off the coast and working it's way northward Sunday night into Monday, and another that will swing through late Monday night into Tuesday.
The first system is a near miss but a miss nonetheless, with shore points picking up on a few rain and snow showers that could leave a coating to perhaps an inch overnight, and areas from Toms River on north possibly seeing a couple of inches. But this system is more a New England storm, bringing another round of heavy wet snow to that region, much like what they saw Friday.
Our chances for accumulating snow here in Philadelphia come on Tuesday. This is a tricky setup propelled by a large upper-level low pressure system swinging down from the Great Lakes and a developing coastal low that could throw moisture back to the coast. But it's the position of that coastal low that makes all the difference.
While light snow will be falling intermittently through the day on Tuesday, there's still a model disagreement as to whether an area of enhanced snow sets up somewhere over the mid-Atlantic region vs. staying largely offshore, and if that enhanced area does form, where it would be. Regardless, this doesn't appear to be a major snowstorm for us here in the Philadelphia area, with the accumulation gradually piling up over the period of 24-36 hours, meaning roads should fare reasonably well. Right now we anticipate a general 1-3" of snow across the entire area through the day Tuesday, with locally higher amounts up to 4-5" possible if an enhanced band sets up across our area. It's simply too soon to tell, but definitely be on alert for the potential for slipper road conditions Tuesday into Wednesday morning.
Behind this system, we will be facing the most prolonged stretch of arctic cold we have felt this winter. Temperatures will likely stay below 32 from Wednesday night through Monday, meaning daytime highs will be nearly 20 degrees below average for that stretch. High temperatures will likely be in the 20's with lows in the teens through Valentine's Weekend before rebounding to more seasonable levels next week.