What do you know about the winter storm?
- We expect a winter storm to impact neighborhoods throughout the Delaware and Lehigh valleys this weekend, starting Saturday afternoon.
- The storm still has a long way to go until it arrives, so it's time to prepare.
- Be sure to check NBC10 News on air, online and in our app for the latest storm tracks, snow and rain forecasts and timing.
The first big snow in about two years could hit parts of the Philadelphia area this weekend, but it's not expected to snow everywhere.
It's still too early to give estimated snow totals, but we want to make sure you have time to prepare for whatever Mother Nature brings. So, prepare your snow shovels and keep an eye out to see if you'll need them where you live.
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Days before the first flakes could fall on Saturday, here's what we know so far about how the storm will impact Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, suburban Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware through Sunday.
What we know about snow and rain chances at this point
The storm system was over the West Coast on Wednesday and is expected to move across the southern United States in the coming days. It could develop to the northeast as it approaches the coasts of Delaware and New Jersey this weekend.
Currently, the storm has a long way to go before it reaches our area. For this reason, the exact track of the storm remains uncertain, but it is expected to begin impacting the area starting at midday Saturday.
As with many storms, the rain/snow line is critical and could end up along the so-called I-95 corridor. Most areas will start out with a period of snow, but as the storm strengthens, a rain/snow line will likely develop somewhere along I-95.
For the Jersey Shore, and most of South Jersey and Delaware, this is primarily a rain event. However, northern and western Pennsylvania suburbs could see several inches of snowfall, with a high possibility of snowfall in the Lehigh Valley and Poconos.
Temperatures hover around or just above freezing points in the north and west and in the 40s along the Jersey Shore and Delaware.
Evidence now suggests the storm could intensify by Saturday evening, continuing with a mix of snow and rain overnight into Sunday. Lengthy rain is possible throughout Sunday before the storm clears by Sunday night.
The storm track is what we will focus on over the next 24 to 48 hours because it is critical in determining how bad the situation is in different neighborhoods.
NBC10 First Alert Weather Meteorologist Justin Godnick is tracking a winter storm that is expected to bring snow, a wintry mix and rain to the area this weekend. Here's the latest news as of midday Wednesday.
The storm will exit the area early Sunday morning, and gusts will likely continue until Sunday afternoon. Now is a good time to plan ahead for the first major winter storm in two seasons, as Philadelphia could break its longest snow-free streak on record.
When was the last time we had significantly measurable snow in Philadelphia?
The last time Philadelphia saw measurable snow was February 1, 2023, when just 0.3 inches fell.
The last time it snowed in Philadelphia was more than 700 days ago! On January 29, 2022, 5.8 inches of snow fell in Philadelphia, helping bring the snowfall total for that storm at Philadelphia International Airport to 7.5 inches. Since then, Philadelphia has not seen more than an inch of snow on any given day.
The same January 2022 storm left nearly two feet of snow in parts of New Jersey.
Now is the time to prepare for the storm
Road crews were already preparing Wednesday for anything to fall from the sky. NBC10's Diana Durante met with crews in Plymouth Township, Montgomery County.
Crews in Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, were prepping plow trucks and salt on Wednesday. Difficult storm forecasts for the weekend leave crews needing to prepare for rain, snow and ice, NBC10's Diana Durante reports.
With several days to prepare, you should take steps now. Get out your snow shovel and melt the ice, grab the ice scraper and put it in your car, make sure to clear the gutters (which can help even if it rains) and potentially get your sled out of the basement.
Here's the full checklist to make sure you're prepared for whatever this storm brings:
Stay ahead of the storm With NBC10
Make sure your phone and other devices are charged with the latest version of the NBC10 app downloaded. We will have updated forecasts, snow forecasts and live interactive radar before and during the winter storm online and on air.
