What to Know
- A winter storm started as rain Monday night before turning to snow early Tuesday and leaving several inches in some neighborhoods.
- With days of above freezing temps leading up to the winter storm, not every neighborhood will see snow sticking to the ground. However, some parts of the northernmost suburbs and Lehigh Valley got around a foot of snow.
- A First Alert for snow -- heavy at times -- for the Pennsylvania suburbs, Berks County, the Lehigh Valley and Mercer County was in effect into Tuesday afternoon.
So long temps in the 50s and hello snow and slippery conditions and more than a foot of snow in some areas.
Temps began to dip after rain moved into the region Monday night, leading to eventual snowfall in much of the Philadelphia region. Neighborhoods from the Philadelphia suburbs to the Lehigh Valley got several inches of snow before the wintry weather started to end late in the morning.
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The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team issued a 🚨 First Alert 🚨 for Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Mercer, Montgomery and Northampton counties from 2 a.m. Tuesday until early afternoon, as snow in those neighborhoods stuck and was intense at points, leading to low visibility, especially in the northernmost parts of those counties. The slick conditions stick around even after the snow ends.
Here's what to know about the snow:
Goodbye spring-like temps, hello snow
High temps on Friday and Saturday were mild -- in the upper 50s in Philadelphia and surrounding communities -- with some sun and clouds. Conditions started feeling a little chillier on Super Bowl Sunday, but still were well above freezing.
The high on Monday in Philadelphia and surrounding communities was around 50. Temps then dipped as night fell, but not cold enough to bring anything more than rain to start.
Changing from rain to inches of snow to sunshine by day's end
As the system took hold, temps began to dip from the 40s into the 30s early Tuesday morning.
The cooling atmosphere transitioned rain to snow, starting in the Lehigh Valley and northern Berks County where it was snowing before daybreak. Throughout early Tuesday, that rain/snow line, as expected, moved further south as colder air blew in.
Philadelphia and surrounding communities had soaking rain overnight, but by 6:30 a.m., some sleet was reported in Philadelphia. By 7:15 a.m. it was snowing in Center City.
In northernmost suburbs, Berks County and the Lehigh Valley, the snow was heavy at times, leading to poor travel conditions Tuesday morning. Parts of the Poconos got more than an inch of snow an hour at one point.
The snow -- heavy at times during the morning -- continued through the morning before wrapping up midday. Once the snow stopped, people pulled out the shovels and snow blowers to clear driveways and sidewalks.
Soon after noon, the sun was already shining in Philly. Blustery conditions should continue through the afternoon.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for Berks County, Mercer County, the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania suburbs into early Tuesday afternoon.
Power outages also remained possible due to heavy, wet snow on tree limbs and power lines. Thousands of PECO customers were in the dark as of midday.
How much snow fell?
As was estimated, more than a foot of snow fell in parts of the Pocono Mountains, while several inches of snow -- more than half a foot in some places -- accumulated in parts the Lehigh Valley and colder Pennsylvania suburbs.
By 11 a.m., more than a foot of snow had fallen in the Poconos with 13.5 inches on the ground in Jim Thorpe and 14.5 inches in Tobyhanna. Over in Weisenberg Township, Lehigh County, more than a foot of snow had fallen.
In parts of the Pennsylvania suburbs snow totals spanned from a few inches in neighborhoods in lower Montgomery County, to more than 10 inches in places like East Nantmeal Township, Chester County.
Click here for the growing list of snow totals.
Temps got down to around freezing in the northernmost neighborhoods as snow intensified in some places, leading to low visibility during the morning commute.
All that snow fell in those places, while basically nothing fell at the Jersey Shore, where rain held on. That rain along with high tide and strong winds is leading to flooding concerns midday along coastal points. In Wildwood, waves were smashing aground.
Why such differences in snow totals?
There were some factors pushing back against accumulating snow in Philadelphia and the immediate suburbs. Temps weren't expected to get much below freezing in those neighborhoods. Also, the ground was warm from days of mild weather, so even snow that falls could melt. In Philadelphia, snow on the ground was very slushy Tuesday morning.
Snowy conditions slow roads, public transit
PennDOT said it was ready to attack any snow that falls onto Pennsylvania roads, but waited out the rain first, not hitting the roads until Tuesday morning as the rain would wash away any treatment they put on roads. Expect to see trucks out on the roads Tuesday even after the snow ended.
Drivers were urged to take it easy and go slow on snowy roads. Drivers in snowy condition should be sure you give lots of space to the car in front.
PennDOT warned there were speed restrictions on several major area highways during the morning, but those restrictions were lifted around noon.
Check 511PA.com before you go.
If you didn't have to drive early, wait the storm out, AAA recommended.
There were crashes along snowy suburban roads as snow stuck Tuesday morning. Cars were also getting stuck, as happened in Haverford, Delaware County.
NJDOT has good advice for drivers who encounter as snow plow -- don't try to pass it. Doing so "is extremely dangerous for both you and the plow operator."
In the Lehigh Valley, LANta bus service was suspended first suspended for the morning and later canceled for the remainder of Tuesday.
Is school opening on time, at all?
Most of the heavy snowfall occurs during the morning. Dozens of schools decided to close, delay opening or switch to virtual learning for Tuesday.
The Philadelphia School District decided to open two hours late Tuesday.
Click here for the full list of school closures and delays.
Counties make decisions to delay openings
Bucks County courts and offices operated on a two-hour delay Tuesday due to the snow. In Berks County, courts opened at 10 a.m.
If you have business at a county office or court Tuesday, be sure to check the website and call ahead to make sure it's open on time.
Temps stay chilly once storm moves out
Although temperatures recover into the lower 40s Tuesday afternoon, it will turn colder at night, freezing whatever is left behind. Don't expect the spring-like warmth to return anytime soon.
Highs on Wednesday won't get out of the upper 30s in most neighborhoods while highs on Thursday and Friday aren't expected to get out of the low to mid 40s. Expect overnight lows below freezing for the rest of the week.
What's it look like by you?
Be sure to stay ahead of any wintry weather by downloading the NBC10 app and checking NBC10 News for the latest First Alert Weather forecasts.
You can also use the app or our social media pages to share photos and video of what the snow looks like by you.
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