Monsoon's Winter Storm Update for Thursday, 18 December 2008

And now for the hotly awaited update on Friday’s weather event...

Snow begins around 4 or 5am and falls quite heavily until mid to late morning, accumulating 2 to 3 inches. Snow mixes with sleet and freezing rain throughout the afternoon, then tapers to snow showers and freezing rain/drizzle by early evening. Precipitation ends by 6 or 7pm. Afternoon high will only be 33 or 34. Travel will be somewhat compromised in the early morning, and will become more treacherous by the late morning and early afternoon.

I will send an update later today or tonight if my thinking changes on this event.

Accumulations:

There’s more moisture associated with this fast-moving system, so accumulations will be more impressive than Tuesday night’s storm.           2 to 4 inches of snow and ice in the forecast area; perhaps as much as six inches north of Berks County. An inch or two of snow and sleet in Philadelphia and the immediate suburbs.

Delays and cancellations:

Chance of delay Friday, 90%.

Chance of school cancellation Friday, 70%.

Beyond:

We’re entering a very cold and quite active period in terms of wintry weather. Winter storm potential exists Saturday the 20^th into Sunday the 21^st; Wednesday the 24^th into Thursday the 25^th; and Friday the 26^th into Saturday the 27^th. Stay tuned throughout the holiday break for periodic updates...

Monsoon