Weather Service Warns of Coastal Storm Hitting Eastern Pennsylvania
Forecasters predict up to three inches of rain and a 10 percent chance of snow for the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia region through Saturday evening.
By Samantha Reed ·
The National Weather Service issued a warning on Sunday regarding a developing low pressure system that could impact eastern Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region later this week. Forecasters describe the system as increasingly likely to bring severe weather, though considerable uncertainty remains regarding its exact path and intensity.
The low pressure system is expected to form over the Ohio Valley by late Wednesday before tracking eastward. By Friday, the system should be positioned off the mid-Atlantic coast where it will strengthen. Impacts for the region are projected to begin Thursday and persist through Friday night.
Paul Fitzsimmons, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, noted that the event does not appear to be a major snowstorm. He stated that conditions will likely consist of rain with potentially some snow, emphasizing that it is not looking like a big snowstorm.
The Weather Prediction Center shared a map indicating specific precipitation probabilities. Much of eastern Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, Berks County, and the Philadelphia region, faces roughly a 10 percent chance of receiving at least one inch of snow between Thursday and Saturday evening. Portions of northeastern Pennsylvania, such as the Poconos, show slightly higher probabilities for snow accumulation.
If snow does fall, it is most likely to occur over higher elevations. The service cautioned that it is too early to determine the total amount of snow or whether lower elevations will see any accumulation. The system could deliver as much as two to three inches of rain.
Current forecasts for the rest of the week call for relatively clear conditions. Sunday is expected to be partly sunny, turning sunny later in the day with a high in the low 60s. Westward winds may produce gusts up to 20 mph. Evening temperatures will drop to 41 degrees with gentle western winds of 10 mph. Monday will be mostly sunny with a high near 60 and gusts up to 30 mph. Tuesday and Wednesday will be sunny with highs near 63. Thursday brings a 50 percent chance of rain after 1 p.m., with a high near 56. Friday continues with a 40 percent chance of rain and a high near 49.
Following the storm's departure, colder than average temperatures are expected to move in through the following weekend.
