Ice Storm Warning Until 10 AM
Ice Storm in Progress: What to know and expect today
(1) Philadelphia Public and Archdiocesan Schools are closed.
(2) Sleet and freezing rain is moving in from the south and should continue through much of the morning. Philadelphia SHOULD warm above freezing for a time later this morning. However, N & W of the city it will likely remain in the 20's throughout the duration of the storm. Sleet accumulations will be significant. Ice accumulations on surfaces in places that get freezing rain will also be significant and power outages are a possibility.
(3) By area, how will the day go:
North and West will fare the worst with this storm from a freezing precipitation standpoint. Temperatures are in the teens and 20's with this event this morning and will be hard pressed to get much above freezing before colder air rushes in during the afternoon. Sleet and freezing rain will persist for the next several hours before possibly ending as a period of snow around noon. If you can stay home, stay home. Do not go out unless you absolutely have to.
From Philadelphia and points south you should turn to rain and see temperatures warm into the mid 30's. Rain may end as a period of snow when the colder air returns later on in the day. Street flooding and slipper roads are a major concern for this area as you have frozen ground or a layer of sleet with rain falling on top of it.
Northeast of Philadelphia along I-95 and into New Jersey will see a mixed bag of precip -- freezing rain, sleet, and rain mixed before ending as a period of snow with temperatures dropping in the afternoon. You may go above freezing for a time before changing back to snow.
(4) Winds will continue to be strong and in fact may pick up more this afternoon with gusts to 40 mph possible throughout the region. If there is ice accumulation on power lines, these winds could snap those lines, leading to power outages.
(5) Temperatures will drop significantly this afternoon and evening as colder air pours in behind the storm. One computer model's take on how cold it gets is below. The NAM has done much better, to this point at least, with the handling of the temperatures at the surface, and I feel comfortable posting what it thinks will happen throughout the day today. This cold weather will hang with us for the next few days, with highs in the 20's and lows in the teens through Friday.
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