WEATHER BLOG: Winter Storm Gets Closer
By Carol Erickson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Despite afternoon temperatures ranging from the low 50's along the shore to the upper 30's in the Lehigh Valley, the much heralded winter storm still approaches.
The latest guidance puts the axis of heaviest precipitation south of Philadelphia, into Delaware and South Jersey. With the mild afternoon temperatures Sunday, rain will start this event, but the transition to snow begins at dark as the colder temperatures filter in.
By Sunday night, after a brief changeover to sleet, snow begins falling. Bursts of snow as the low pressure systems impact the area will put snow totals into the 6 to 10 inch range for most of the area from Philadelphia and south. Lesser amounts, tapering to the 3 to 6 inch range in the Lehigh Valley will impact travel, but likely not to the same extent as through areas Philadelphia and south.
Computer guidance continues to come in, even as the storm gets closer, and the final track will need to be monitored closely.
Temperatures Sunday night drop to 20 degrees and only rise to 25 on Monday. Some of the computer models want to wrap up this system and have it clearing the coast by the noon hour. Again, the final end comes after the far southern and eastern areas receive their last snowfall perhaps several hours later Monday afternoon.
The winter storm warning for the Philadelphia area and points south begins at 6 pm Sunday night and ends at 1 pm Monday.
Carol
