WEATHER: Wintry Mix Makes For Messy Morning Commute
By Kate Bilo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A messy Monday morning commute is already underway as an area of moisture streaks into the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys. Warm air is moving in aloft with this system, but after last week's cold snap, the rain will freeze on contact through the morning hours, especially in areas to the north and west of Philadelphia where temperatures didn't make it much past freezing yesterday.
The good news is that we're not expecting the precipitation to be extremely heavy, but the bad news is that it doesn't take much ice to cause dangerous conditions. You'll want to be especially careful on bridges, overpasses, sidewalks and any other untreated surfaces. We'll also have to keep an eye out for downed tree branches leading to possible power outages - this will be most likely up toward the Lehigh Valley where up to .25" of ice could occur in the hardest hit spots.
With temperatures rising into the upper 30's this afternoon, the icy mix will eventually transition to plain rain, but expect slick winter conditions through the course of the morning commute around the city, and possibly lasting into the afternoon as you head north toward the Allentown/Bethlehem area.
Winter Weather Advisories are in effect at this hour. The advisory lasts until 10am in the city and nearby suburbs, 1pm in the Lehigh Valley, western Chester County and northern parts of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and 5pm in the Poconos.
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