Arctic Blast Brings Chance For Snow In PA, Forecasters Predict

Blasts of frigid, Arctic air are expected to make their way to Eastern Pennsylvania in the coming weeks, and will bring an increased potential of snow, long-range forecasters say.

Local forecaster Steven DiMartino, who heads the private NY NJ PA Weather consulting company, said in a recent video there is still "plenty of opportunity" for snowstorms as January turns into February.

"The cold air isn't going away anytime soon," DiMartino said. Using models and predictions, he said that cold air will keep pushing from the polar vortex into the eastern U.S., which is important for snow.

A strong upper low around Quebec is keeping much moisture from reaching the region, though.

DiMartino said it could shift into the Hudson Bay, which would increase the chances of storm systems moving along the subtropical jet stream in the south into the Mid-Atlantic.

"I am not guaranteeing winter storms," DiMartino said. "I'm just saying that if you think you can cancel winter and think it's going to be cold and dry for the rest of the winter or we start losing our cold air altogether, the data says wrong."

Any potential storms will not be as soon as the next week, though. Frigid air is coming again this week but it will not be conducive for snow.

"Multiple waves of Arctic air continue to gather over northern Canada with eyes for the central and eastern United States in the days and weeks ahead," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

AccuWeather meteorologists predict a stormy stretch from Jan. 18 to 20, "opening a pathway for one or more significant storms to move up from the South Central states or the Gulf and either track toward the Great Lakes or the coastal Northeast," Pastelok said.

It'll be frigid again towards the end of the month.

"An Arctic blast prior to the end of the month (Jan. 20-24) has the potential to sprawl over much of the Central and Eastern states," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. "It may not be such a direct shot into the East, however."

"Winter is not canceled in any way, shape or form," DiMartino said.

Here's the local forecast:

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 41.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Patch's Veronica Flesher contributed to this report.