New Winter Outlook Issued For PA: Here's When The Worst Is Coming

We've entered January, which typically means bone-chilling temperatures, whipping winds, and chances for snow. So will that be the case this month?

The Weather Channel has recently released an updated seasonal forecast for winter 2019, saying while January might be average to even mild, don't expect the whole winter to be forgiving.

Temperatures in January are largely expected to be about average, with the end of the month ushering in some below-average cold. (The average daytime temperature in the Philadelphia region for January is in the low 40s. The average nighttime temperature is in the mid 20s.)

In the early part of this month, we could even be in for some daytime temperatures in the 50s, AccuWeather predicts. A high of 61 was recorded for the region on Jan. 1.

The chance of snow is pretty much ruled out for the next two weeks, the Weather Channel says.

But don't expect to get off easy for the whole season. Temperatures are expected to drop towards the end of the month, ushering in a much colder February, forecasters predict. February will likely be the coldest month of the winter, when temperatures will likely be "well below average," The Weather Channel says.

"Everything is still on track for a notably cold, stormy late-winter period in the eastern and southern U.S., especially in February," Todd Crawford, The Weather Channel's chief meteorologist Crawford, said in a news release.

March is expected to be a bit milder in the Northeast after the frigid February, with temperatures near average or slightly warmer than average.

"It currently appears as if the El Nino event will not decay significantly heading into spring, which should favor the continuation of cooler-than-normal temperatures across much of the southern and eastern U.S. into at least May," Crawford said in the news release.

For now, here's your short-term local forecast:

Wednesday night: Rain likely, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 35. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Light west wind becoming northwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. West wind 3 to 5 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 3 to 7 mph.

Friday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 49.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

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