What Forecasters Are Saying About Snow Today In Eastern PA

What To Know Summary:

• Heavy snow will miss Pennsylvania, but snow squalls could create hazardous driving conditions. Sudden snow showers may reduce visibility when driving.
• Snow will be periodic, starting Thursday afternoon and continuing into the evening.
• Accumulation will be minimal, with eastern Pennsylvania expecting a coating to 1 inch before skies clear late Thursday night.
• Temperatures will rise over the weekend.

Full Story:

While heavy snow is going to miss Pennsylvania Thursday night, snow squalls and showers could still make for a dangerous commute, forecasters warn.

"By this point in winter, most motorists are typically in tune with safe driving skills when dealing with snow," AccuWeather meteorologists said. "However, the nature of the snow showers swinging from the Midwest to the Appalachians and as far east as coastal areas from North Carolina to Massachusetts can be sudden and dramatic."

What Thursday will bring

As of Thursday afternoon, clouds have already increased ahead of the light snow moving in. It will be "periodic not persistent," according to National Weather Service forecasters. The snow will start falling this afternoon and early evening.

But this still has risks, forecasters say. Squalls can suddenly form and create a drastic drop in visibility. And even without squalls, untreated roads may still get slick, especially once the sun goes down.

"Another danger will be the persistence of the snow showers into the evening hours on Thursday," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. "Just enough cooling of road surface temperatures from late in the afternoon into the evening can allow even a light snow shower to create sudden slippery conditions."

Will it accumulate?

The snow shouldn't accumulate. Eastern Pennsylavania should get a coating to 1 inch, according to the National Weather Service. By late Thursday night, skies will clear.

Frigid temperatures will warm over the course of the weekend.

The end of February will be warmer, according to the National Weather Service, and while some rain showers are possible next week, there is "nothing really impactful on the horizon."

Here's the local forecast:

This afternoon: A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 27. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight: A chance of snow showers, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 39. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.