Hour-By-Hour Forecast Ahead Of PA's First Winter Storm

Forecasters across the region are watching an impending storm that is likely to drop an early dose of winter weather upon our doorsteps Thursday morning.

The storm is a "potent mess" of rain, ice and snow that has even left accumulation as far south as Louisiana, The Weather Channel says. Much of Central Pennsylvania, where 3 to 6 inches is predicted, is under a Winter Storm Watch, the NWS said.

Accumulation is expected to be less in the Philadelphia region, where a Winter Weather Advisory is in place. The Weather Channel is calling for 1 to 3 inches and the National Weather Service predicts less than 1 inch of snow with some sleet mixed in for our area.

In most of the interior Northeast away from I-95, cold air should hold, making the precipitation from the storm wintry — either snow, sleet or freezing rain. Closer to I-95, any initial round of wintry precipitation will likely change over to rain, according to The Weather Channel.

The best chance of moderate to "potentially heavier snowfall" is in a swath from central Pennsylvania to western and northern New England, The Weather Channel says, noting a "brief round of snow" is possible in Philadelphia.

On Friday, snow remains in the forecast for northeast Pennsylvania, including in the Poconos. Friday morning rain is predicted for Philadelphia and the suburbs.

Here is the hourly forecast for Thursday in the Philadelphia region, according to The Weather Channel:

10 a.m. - Rain/snow showers (45% chance)
11 a.m. - Snow (65% chance)
12 p.m. - Snow (80% chance)
1 p.m. - Snow (90% chance)
2 p.m. - Snow (95% chance)
3 p.m. - Rain (100% chance)
4 p.m.- Rain (100% chance)
5 p.m. - Rain (100% chance)
6 p.m. - Rain (100% chance)
7 p.m. - Rain (95% chance)
8 p.m. - Rain (90% chance)
9 p.m. - Rain (80% chance)
10 p.m. - Light rain (75% chance)
11 p.m. - Light rain (65% chance)

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