Weather Blog: Pre-Thanksgiving Nor'Easter To Bring Major Holiday Travel Headaches
By Katie Fehlinger
PHILADELPHIA (CBS)--As a large storm encroaches on the Delaware Valley, the Eyewitness Weather Team continues to fine tune the details. Here's the latest:
Storm Synopsis:
Precipitation in varying forms will slowly overspread the entire region affecting all of us by Tuesday evening. Much warmer air will also invade as the storm center moves in, so any and all precipitation will eventually change over to soaking rain overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Flash flooding then becomes a concern as the region could easily pick up 1-2"+ of rain. Additionally, the wind starts to howl with the core of the storm passing through, and that will continue to be a theme even after the storm has made its full departure.
We'll still have to deal with pockets of steady rain for the better part of the daylight hours Wednesday before the storm pulls away - temperatures actually fall through the day, and we could also see a few snow showers behind the storm Wednesday night. The wind meanwhile is still cranking on Thanksgiving, but we'll clear out with sunshine for the holiday, not to mention Black Friday.
Highlights Region by Region:
Philadelphia/Nearby NW Suburbs
As the precipitation begins to fall into Tuesday afternoon, it may mix with snow or sleet initially. Watch for the possibility of slick travel through the colder suburbs Tuesday afternoon (i.e. Chester, Montgomery, Bucks counties) before the full changeover to rain takes place.
Lehigh Valley/Poconos
Light snow fell most of Tuesday morning in the far northern branch of our region. Another pulse of snow will likely move in Tuesday afternoon and into the evening, before it starts changing to rain. As the changeover happens (Tuesday evening), any precipitation could freeze on contact and lead to slick travel. As a result, Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect well into Tuesday night. Before the changeover to rain, we could see a modest snow accumulation of 1-2".
South NJ/Delaware
Rain slowly moves in through Tuesday, picking up in intensity as well as coverage. The heaviest rain will fall overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning. However, additional pockets of steady or soaking rain will still roll through for the better part of the daylight hours Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the wind will start to crank beginning Tuesday night and lasting through most of Wednesday. Gusts could peak easily around 45 mph. Wind Advisories take effect between midnight and 10AM Wednesday for the NJ shore and the DE beaches.
