Rain and potential snow forecast for eastern Pennsylvania this week
A developing low pressure system may bring up to three inches of precipitation to the region by Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
By Olga Menon ·
The National Weather Service now considers a coastal storm system increasingly likely to affect eastern Pennsylvania and neighboring areas later this week. The agency predicts the system could deliver two to three inches of rain, with a smaller probability of snowfall.
Forecast models indicate a low pressure system will form over the Ohio Valley by late Wednesday. It is expected to track eastward, moving off the mid-Atlantic coast by Friday where it will intensify. Residents in the region may begin experiencing impacts on Thursday, with conditions persisting through Friday night.
Paul Fitzsimmons, a meteorologist at the Mount Holly, N.J. forecast office, characterized the event as primarily rain with the possibility of some snow. He noted that the system does not appear likely to produce major snowfall.
The Weather Prediction Center shared a map showing a roughly 10 percent chance of at least one inch of snow across much of eastern Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, Berks County, and the Philadelphia region, between Thursday and Saturday evening. Higher probabilities are indicated for portions of northeastern Pennsylvania, such as the Poconos. The service stated it is too early to determine total snow accumulation or whether lower elevations will receive snow.
Prior to the storm's arrival, the region will experience relatively clear weather. Sunday is forecast to be partly sunny before becoming sunny, with a high in the low 60s and westward wind gusts up to 20 mph. Evening temperatures are expected to drop to 41 degrees.
Monday will feature mostly sunny skies with a high near 60 and gusts up to 30 mph. Tuesday and Wednesday, the latter of which is Veterans Day, are expected to be sunny with highs near 63. Precipitation chances rise on Thursday, with a 50 percent chance of rain after 1 p.m. and a high near 56. Friday will see a 40 percent chance of rain and a high near 49.
Once the storm moves out, colder than average temperatures are expected to move in through the following weekend.
