How much snow to expect Saturday

Here comes round 3 in a week of snow and winter storms. Philadelphia and close-in suburbs can expect up to four inches of snow.

 

 

More snow is expected to move into the region Saturday morning and it could be a significant event depending on where you live.

The system, which was over Oklahoma Friday morning, should arrive Saturday morning. NBC10 First Alert Weather chief meteorologist Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz said that with a deep freeze Friday night any moisture that arrives Saturday should begin as snow.

The storm doesn’t appear to be very well organized but it should still bring snow to most of the area including Delaware and South Jersey before turning to mostly rain south of the I-95 corridor, according to the NBC10 First Alert Weather team.

The storm should bring plenty of snow to the Poconos but barely anything down the shore.

Preliminary Storm Time Line:

 

Saturday 8 a.m. to noon – snow develops as temps hover around 30

Noon to 6 p.m. – snow with a wintry mix to the south and east as temps get up to around the freezing mark.

6 to 10 p.m. – snow/ice/rain (depending where you are) as temps push up past freezing

10 p.m. to early Sunday – moisture moves out

 

First Alert Weather Estimated Totals:

 

Philadelphia, Trenton, immediate suburbs: 2 to 4 inches

Lehigh Valley, north and west suburbs: 5 to 8 inches

Poconos: 7 plus inches

New Castle, Del. Parts of South Jersey: 1 to 2 inches

Far South Jersey, Delaware: less than 1 inch if any accumulation

 

 

 

 

Those estimates could be adjusted, but the northern suburbs should expect more snow than areas farther south.

The system will move out by early Sunday and refreezing is possible, said First Alert Weather meteorologist Sheena Parveen.

What to Expect:

Some accumulation is likely to occur throughout the morning and into the afternoon, when the Army-Navy Game will be underway at Lincoln Financial Field. But the fast-moving system makes it difficult to predict the total amount of precipitation.

Ahead of the storm expect bitter cold temperatures, which bottomed out in the 20s Friday. That cold air will cool off the ground enough to cause any moisture that arrives to almost immediately stick to surfaces.

The trick is how quickly temps go up on Saturday. Lows are expected in the mid-20s in Philadelphia Saturday morning and should push into the 30s as the day goes on but how fast and how quick could be the difference-maker between notable accumulation or not.

The best bet is to continue to check back with the NBC10.com Severe Weather Central and the NBC10 First Alert Weather team.

After storms Sunday and Tuesday, some people saw a quick flash of flurries Thursday that left up to 1 inch of snow Thursday morning as the coldest air yet closed in on the Philadelphia region.

A quick-moving burst of snow left 1 inch on the ground in Quakertown, Bucks County, 4/5 of an inch in Allentown, Lehigh County, 1/2 of an inch in Sellersville, Bucks County, and 1/5 of an inch in Spring Mount, Montgomery County, according to the national weather service. NBC10 cameras also captured snow in Glenside, Northeast Philly and Mercer County, N.J.

The storm caused icy commutes for drivers and some minor accidents.