Minor to Moderate Snow Event For This Weekend ! Colder weather takes hold into 1st Week of January !

Issued: Thursday: 12/27/12 .... 8:00 AM
Discussion For Weekend Snow Event.
For The Delaware Valley and M/A States.

Much of the coastal plain in the M/A has been pretty much snowless for the month of December. Colder air will be filtering in for the remainder of this week, behind our big storm, which is now exiting over New England. High pressure and seasonably colder weather will take hold for today and tomorrow. It will continue quite windy today as the pressure gradient remains quite strong between our exiting storm and high pressure building in from the Midwest and G/L's. High temps for today and tomorrow will struggle to reach the upper 30's and lower 40's.

As we head into this weekend, things get quite interesting. A storm system will develop over the northern Gulf States later Friday and Friday night. This storm will then move northeast to the North Carolina coast by Saturday morning, and off the NJ coast by Saturday night. With cold air in place, I'm forecasting a minor to moderate snow event for Saturday into Saturday evening for the Delaware Valley. It looks like areas near and too the south and east of PHL, could see the jackpot amounts this go around. Interior Southern/Central NJ and Central and Northern DE could see a solid 2"-4" event, with the potential for some amounts near 5" or 6".

The exact track and intensity of this storm will determine the outcome of our snow amounts, so I'll be tracking this system very closely over the next couple of days. Temps will remain cold, in the mid to upper 30's on Saturday and drop into the 20's by Saturday evening. Some rain will mix in during the day, especially over Southern DE and coastal Southern NJ. I expect snowfall amounts in these areas to be less, with around 1"-2".

Snow should begin during the mid and late morning hours on Saturday and continue into much of Saturday evening. All snow should end by midnight, as the storm quickly moves northeast and off the New England coast by Sunday morning.

Behind this weekend storm, much colder air will settle in for next week. Highs will only be in the 30's and lows in the teens and lower 20's. Another threat comes just after New Year's day, so towards next Wed/Thursday another southern system, could bring some additional snowfall to much of the interior SE and M/A States.

So, my best estimate as of right now, is for a general 2"-4" snow event for PHL/ SE PA, much of Interior Southern/Central NJ and Northern DE.

For both Coastal Southern NJ, and Southern DE, around 1"-2" amounts can be expected as rain will mix in during Saturday.

For our friends further south and west into Eastern MD and interior Central and Northern VA, some snow accumulations are also likely near and East of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The coastal regions of VA and the Delmarva will see mixed precip and rain, changing to some snow before ending.

Take Care,
Ruggie