PA Winter Storm Advisories Expanded, Timing To Impact Tuesday Commute

PENNSYLVANIA - Up to a foot of heavy snow, coastal flooding and fierce winds are in store for more areas of Pennsylvania, according to an afternoon update from the National Weather Service.

Between 3 to 5 inches of snowfall and wind gusts up to 30 mph are possible in southeastern Pennsylvania as a result of the storm Monday into Tuesday, the National Weather Service said, though a last-minute shift could bring more accumulation to the area.

The weather agency noted the Tuesday commute will be treacherous for motorists as about an inch of snowfall per hour is in the cards during the morning rush. As of Monday at 3 p.m., three southeastern Pennsylvania counties - Bucks, Chester and Montgomery - are under a winter storm advisory through Tuesday afternoon.

“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,” the National Weather Service said. “When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.”

“The Tuesday morning commute is looking *rough*, particularly I-78 & I-80 corridors, but I-95 northwest will need to be cautious,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station added in an X post.

“Moderate” coastal flooding may prompt road closures and property flooding, the National Weather Service said. Strong winds with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph could damage property and spark power outages.

Though the storm is set to hit Pennsylvania Monday night, there is still a chance the storm could shift last minute and take a southern track, AccuWeather said. That shift would mean a “heavy, plowable accumulation” of snow farther to Philadelphia and New York City.

“Snowfall can ramp up from a slushy coating to half a foot or more in a matter of a few miles along the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City, southwestward to Philadelphia," AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Sadvary said, citing the changing trajectory of the storm and the warm to cold conditions leading up to Tuesday.

As of 3:30 p.m., the southeast region is under a coastal flood advisory in Burlington, Delaware, Philadelphia and Bucks counties.

The storm is slated to taper off Tuesday afternoon on a high note, per AccuWeather, with any delay in the storm’s end posing “huge consequences in terms of a rapid, last-minute accumulation.”

Those celebrating Valentine’s Day on Wednesday can expect sunny skies with temperatures mainly in the high 30s, though it’s unclear how much digging out motorists will need to do.

Here’s the latest forecast, per the National Weather Service:

Monday: A chance of rain, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 49. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: Rain, mainly after 9 p.m. Low around 40. East wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Rain, possibly mixing with snow after 1 p.m., then gradually ending. High near 41. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. West wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24.