Today’s weather event starts as rain and sleet in the Delaware Valley

The biggest snow storm of the season is forecast today in the Philadelphia region possibly bringing with it 8-12 inches of snow. 

It’s a classic Nor’easter that is pulling moisture from the Atlantic and turning it into heavy snow Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The storm is starting as a rain and sleet event but forecasters are saying it will  pick up in intensity throughout Tuesday.

The heaviest amounts of snow will fall in a area that is northwest of I-95 between Philadelphia and New York City with these areas getting more than a foot of snow.

Wilmington, Delaware, could see 11 inches.

For New Jersey, forecasters say 18 to 24 inches of snow is expected in northern areas, while central Jersey will likely see 6 to 12 inches. About 4 to 5 inches is expected in southern areas, where rain and sleet is expected to mix in with the snow. Jersey Shore towns are preparing for coastal flooding, which will peak during high tide Tuesday between  9:15 and 10:15 a.m.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard watch from late Monday night through Tuesday evening for northern New Jersey and into New York City, where 18 inches of snow could fall.

In Superintendent William Hite said all Philadelphia public schools will be closed on Tuesday.  

In New Jersey, all bus service will be halted on Tuesday beginning at 12:01 a.m. and trains will run on a weekend schedule, except for the Atlantic City Rail Line which will run on its normal weekday schedule. Governor Christie has declared a State of Emergency, which just means the State Director of Emergency Management can activate storm preparation measures. 

Amtrak says Acela Express will be on a modified schedule between New York City and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. The Northeast Regional service will also run on a modified schedule with some trains truncated or cancelled between Washington D.C., and Boston.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says starting Tuesday at 10 p.m. all speed limits will be reduced to 45 mph on all interstates and expressways east of Interstate 99 — which runs vertically through the center of the state. 

Empty trailers, towed trailers, buses, RVs and motorcycles are banned from those roadways until Tuesday evening.