'Strong' Storm System To Bring Arctic Blast With Snow To PA: Forecast

PENNSYLVANIA — An Arctic blast will bring rain and possibly some snow to the greater Philadelphia area this week, according to the latest forecast.

The storm will arrive Wednesday night and continue intermittently through Thursday night.

Total accumulation in the Philadelphia metro area is likely to be half an inch or less, the National Weather Service said. However, outlying areas in the northeastern part of the state, including the Poconos, could receive up to two inches of snow.

The national Weather Service called it a "strong storm system" that will bring with it powerful winds and below normal temperatures.

The timing of the storm means that commuters on Thursday could face difficulties, including dangerous snow squalls, or rapidly developing, blustering snow that reduces visibility and causes potentially lethal road conditions.

"Compounding the issue, in this case, will be the potential for a rapid freeze-up where the snow squalls just wet the roads, and then the road freezes before it is dried off by gusty winds," AccuWeather forecasters said. "In another scenario, the snow squalls bring a thin coating that turns icy as vehicles compress the snow and briefly cause it to melt but then turn into a sheet of ice."

In the greater Philadelphia area, a long-lasting squall is unlikely. But that doesn't mean road conditions will be clear.

"A heavy snow shower is most likely to make most roads just wet but still can quickly reduce visibility on Thursday," AccuWeather added. "A brief coating of snow lasting only a few minutes before melting on bridges and overpasses can be enough to create dangerous conditions."

Strong winds on Thursday, potentially up to 50 mph, could lead to tree damage and local power outages, the National Weather Service said.

These winds and low temperatures in the 20s will yield wind chills in the low-to-mid 10s for much of the region, "by far the lowest wind chills we have experienced so far this season," the National Weather Service said.

Here's the latest forecast for the greater Philadelphia area:

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 25. West wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 42. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night
A chance of rain and snow showers, mainly after 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday
A chance of snow showers before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Breezy.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 38. Breezy.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 43.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Monday
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

With reporting from Patch correspondent Veronica Flesher