Winter weather will have millions of people around the United States shivering and shoveling this weekend, including Pennsylvanians.
AccuWeather and the National Weather Service are predicting a significant winter storm and forecasting heavy, plowable snowfall across the mid-Atlantic and northeast states, including Pennsylvania.
Winter storm watches have been issued for much of the state beginning Saturday. Current forecast models have the heaviest snow beginning to fall late Saturday and continuing throughout the day Sunday.
Brutally cold temperatures, with sub-zero wind chills, are also forecast for western Pa.
Here’s a look at how the storm is shaping up in Pa., as of late Thursday morning:
Central Pa.
The National Weather Service in State College issued a winter storm watch Thursday morning for the bulk of central Pennsylvania—spanning the New York border to the Maryland state line—from Saturday at 10 p.m. until Monday at 1 p.m.
“Heavy snow is possible,” the weather service said. “Total snow accumulations of 6 inches or more are possible.”
In south central Pa. counties such as Adams, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York, sleet could mix in with the snow, or the precipitation could change over to sleet on Sunday evening, according to the weather service.
Kyle Elliott, director of the Weather Information Center at Millersville University, said the storm pattern is favorable for a “moderate‑to‑major” event.
“The potential does indeed exist for a double‑digit snowfall across the Lower Susquehanna Valley this weekend, specifically from Saturday night through Sunday night,” Elliott said.
Temperatures are predicted to be in the teens to low 20s throughout the duration of the storm, and the impacts will be “extreme” and “far‑reaching,” Elliott said. Roads are expected to be impassable Sunday and possibly into Monday, and airport delays and cancellations will likely be widespread.
Greater Philadelphia
The latest forecast from the National Weather Service calls the chance for a storm with up to 24 inches of snow in the Philadelphia region, a “reasonable worst case scenario,” but models suggest 6 to 12 inches of snow is more likely.
“A major winter storm is expected to begin impacting the area Saturday night, continuing through early Monday afternoon. Significant snow accumulations are possible areawide,” the NWS Mount Holly, New Jersey office said Thursday morning. It’s issued a winter storm watch for the region from 7 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Monday.
While the area along the I-95 corridor will see a lot of snow, it may mix with or change to sleet or freezing rain across southeastern Pa., “during the day on Sunday, potentially reducing snow totals but further complicating travel,” the weather service said. The track of the storm is still being monitored and could change.
Greater Pittsburgh
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the greater Pittsburgh area, from Saturday evening through Monday afternoon.
The weather service is calling for 8 to 12 inches of snow across the area, likely starting Saturday night and lasting through Sunday. The heaviest snow is expected on Sunday.
Temperatures are forecast to fall into the low single digits Friday night, with wind chills in the -10 to -15 degree range by Saturday morning.
NEPA
According to Accuweather, anywhere from 6 to 10 inches of snow is expected in the region, with a winter storm watch issued from 1 a.m. Sunday through 7 p.m. Monday.
The heaviest snowfall is currently forecast to be from the New York-Pennsylvania state line southward. Snowfall could be very heavy at times Saturday through Sunday night with hourly rates exceeding 1 inch per hour.
Northwestern Pa.
The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a winter storm watch for Erie and Crawford counties from Saturday at 7 p.m. until Monday at 1 p.m. Weather service offices in Pittsburgh and State College have issued similarly timed winter storm watches for Mercer, Venango, Forest, and Warren counties.
The weather service calls for the potential for half a foot of snow in places between Saturday night and Monday morning. The heaviest snow is likely Sunday. At the same time, low temperatures and sub-zero wind chills will persist nights and mornings.
Before the snow arrives, bitter cold temperatures will settle into the region.
The weather service forecast for Erie and nearby calls for a high temperature around 28 degrees Thursday, falling to around 21 by 4 p.m. The low Jan. 22 will be around 5 degrees. Winds of 13 mph to 15 mph from the southwest will gust to 28 mph at times.
The high around Erie Friday will be around 14, but the temperature will plunge to around 6 degrees by 1 p.m. Wind chill could be as low as minus 12 because of west winds gusting as high as 30 mph.
Friday’s low will be around zero, with a wind chill near minus 10.
The high Saturday will be around 12 and the low near 6 as the winter storm watch takes effect.
On Sunday, the forecast high will be around 20 and the low near 10.
Pocono region
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Poconos as the potential of 6 to 12 inches of snow in the region this weekend looks increasingly likely, with some models indicating totals of more than a foot in some areas.
The watch starts late Saturday and lasts into Monday in Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties.
“Significant snow accumulations will lead to very difficult travel conditions,” the National Weather Service in Philadelphia/Mount Holly said in a briefing issued early Thursday with “widespread closures and impacts to infrastructure.”
Southwestern Pa.
The National Weather Service in State College has issued a winter storm watch from 10 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Monday for counties in the southwestern part of the state.
Heavy snow with significant accumulations is expected Saturday night through Sunday, according to the weather service, with 6 to 10 inches of snow expected across the region, and the potential for snowfall in excess of 12 inches in areas adjacent to and south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The weather service is calling for frigid temperatures in the region beginning Friday that could last through the end of the month. Wind chills may remain in the single digits above and below zero through at least the middle of next week.
Information from Reuters Connect/USA Today Network was used in this report.
