The latest on the storm...
It’s a difficult one to call because any significant accumulation that results from this storm will be due to “banding”—and it’s hard to predict where this will take place. It’s also a fast-moving storm with a lot of potential punching power. In short, it’s a storm that has the potential to slam some places and graze others.
The forecast…
Total precipitation for this storm, rain and snow. Note that we in Berks are in the range of highest precipitation, and we'll be prime beneficiaries of dynamic cooling. Hence, the "sweet spot."It’s looking more and more like we (in central and southern Berks, and northern Lancaster County) may be in the “sweet spot” of this storm—a narrow swath of heavy accumulation that runs from York northeast to Allentown.
Expect heavy rain this afternoon and evening, with temperatures falling through the 40s and into the upper 30s. Total rainfall will be in the neighborhood of 1.5 inches.
Then we’ll see a changeover to heavy, wet snow around midnight; the wind will also kick up toward this time. Visibilities will be reduced as snow falls (with varying intensity in most places—but as I indicated earlier, thick and fast in some places) from roughly 1am to 7am. Travel will become slippery as roads quickly get snow-covered and slushy.
School disruption Thursday: delay 65%; cancellation 40%.
Total accumulations: 2 to 4 inches, with a bit more possible in higher elevations.
Then we’ll see rapid clearing through Thursday afternoon with a high in the mid 40s (and wind chills in the 20s).
Friday looks partly cloudy and breezy with a high in the mid 40s.
Saturday and Sunday look sunny and colder with windy conditions on Saturday. Highs both days will only be in the upper 30s, with lows in the mid 20s.