First Snow In PA As Cold Front Slams Region: Latest Forecast

PENNSYLVANIA — The first snowstorm of the year is on its way to parts of Pennsylvania, including a big portion of eastern Pennsylvania, while the rest of the region braces for a continued cold front and freezing rain, forecasters said.

It comes the day after widespread temperatures below freezing hit the region for the first time this season. A massive temperature swing has already hit the region, with Philadelphia seeing a 24-degree difference from a high of 72 on Sunday to a high of just 48 on Monday, AccuWeather notes.

Precipitation is set to begin in the area later Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service said. It will continue into Tuesday night and is likely to taper off at some point early Wednesday.

Snow is predicted to hit much of the state, including a band that stretches across the entire northern half, AccuWeather says. A chunk of eastern Pennsylvania is likely to get at least some snow, with three to four inches forecasted in the Poconos and less than an inch from Reading heading northeast to northern Bucks County.

That snow will transition to sleet and freezing rain by late Tuesday night, the National Weather Service said.

The immediate greater Philadelphia area, meanwhile, is likely to receive strictly rain.

In other parts of Pennsylvania AccuWeather says "narrow and steadier bands of snow" blowing off the Great Lakes could develop separate snow squalls later in the week.

"In areas hit by consistent snow squalls, it's possible that over a foot of snow will pile up by the end of the day Friday," AccuWeather said. "One of these areas is Pennsylvania."

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has declared this week Snow Squall Awareness Week, and has issued warnings to residents across the state about the daner.

"Snow squalls have led to major pileup crashes with multiple injuries and deaths, " Major Robert Krol, Director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Patrol, said in a statement. Krol urged anyone involved in a crash to not stand by the accident, but to get off the highway behind a barrier, tree, or something secure.

Last year, six people were killed on I-81 in a massive pileup during a squall that officials said was one of the worst roadway tragedies in state history.

PennDOT has also launched variable speed limit signs, which call for reduced speeds when roadway conditions change quickly, at 63 locations around the state:

• 21 locations along I-80 in Clearfield (mile marker (MM) 100-133) and Clinton (MM 182-193) counties
• Six locations on I-80 in Clarion and Jefferson counties on the approaches to Emlenton Bridge (MM 42-45), North Fork Bridge (MM 78-81), and Kyle Lake Bridge (MM 92-95)
• 36 locations along I-81 from I-78 to I-80 in Lebanon (five locations), Luzerne (seven locations), and Schuylkill (24 locations) counties

Here's the latest forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Tuesday

Rain likely, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday night

Rain. Low around 40. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday

A chance of rain, mainly before 7am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 51. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind around 10 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday night

Mostly clear, with a low around 31.