Snowstorm Approaching Philly Area: Forecasters Provide Key Update

The winter storm heading toward the Delaware Valley is likely to bring around 3 to 4 inches of accumulating snow on Saturday night into early Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

It will mark the first significant snowfall for much of the eastern Pennsylvania region this season.

The storm is expected to move in just before 10 p.m., and could possibly start with rain. By 10 p.m., that rain will turn quickly to snow, and the snow is expected to stick, forecasters said.

Around 1 to 3 inches are expected to fall Saturday night, while another inch could fall on Sunday morning, when the storm could even briefly intensify, forecasters said. Temperatures will drop to 27 overnight on Saturday and then down to 16 on Sunday night, ensuring accumulation on roads and also slippery conditions.

The low temperatures could also lead to other dangers.

"Hypothermia or frostbite could occur with prolonged exposure and lack of proper clothing," the National Weather Service said. "Some impacts to infrastructure possible."

Forecasters said they have "moderate" confidence in their predictions, with a 70 percent chance that the Philadelphia area will receive two inches of snow or more, and a 39 percent chance there will be four inches or more.

There's even a chance that even more snow could fall, depending on how much or how little of the beginning of the storm is rain. The National Weather Service says the city and immediate suburbs have a 15 percent chance of six inches or more.

"Motorists and airline passengers in the Northeast this weekend should be prepared for one or more periods of snow that result in travel delays," AccuWeather added. "This includes the millions of people that reside in or will be traveling through Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston."

Here's the full forecast for the coming week, according to the National Weather Service:

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 21. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night
A chance of rain and snow before 10 p.m., then snow. Low around 27. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday
A chance of snow, mainly before 10 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 30. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 16.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 29.

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 42.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Thursday
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.