Light snow showers and flurries moved into the area Wednesday night but it’s not related to Friday’s major winter storm.

A small clipper system moved into South Jersey and Delaware around 11 p.m. and the Philadelphia area around midnight.

The system will have little to no accumulation with half an inch of snow at the most. The fast-moving system will move out around 2 a.m. Thursday. The one concern will be slippery spots on roads and untreated surfaces due to leftover moisture freezing over so be careful driving during the Thursday morning rush.

This system is not related at all to the snowstorm set to hit our area late Friday into Saturday. CLICK HERE for more information on that storm.

A car slammed into a toll booth on the New Jersey Turnpike Wednesday night, killing the passenger inside, police say.

The car plowed into a barrier next to the toll booth at exit 14 in Newark, New Jersey State Police said. 

The passenger in the front seat was killed instantly, and the driver was taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to police.

It appears speed may have played a factor, but police said they were still investigating. 

No worker was in the toll booth, and no other cars were involved, police said. 

Traffic was moving through the area OK. The highly traveled toll road leads to Newark Airport and other major state thoroughfares. 

A major snowstorm -- with blizzard conditions and storm surges on par with Superstorm Sandy -- is coming, so now is the time to get ready.

The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team issued a First Alert Weather Warning for Friday night into early Sunday as the storm could drop more than one foot of snow on parts of the Philadelphia region and at least 10 inches on much of the area.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf declared a state of emergency soon after the National Weather Service declared a Blizzard Warning for Philadelphia, the immediate suburbs, Wilmington and most of South Jersey from 7 p.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Sunday.

The key to how much snow some areas see could be where the snow/rain line winds up -- does it get to Philly and Wilmington?

The latest NBC10 First Alert Weather forecasting computer models show the storm moving into the region late Friday and lasting into early Sunday. The brunt of the storm should come Saturday making travel difficult, if not possible, said NBC10 First Alert Weather meteorologist Bill Henley.

"If you don't have to go somewhere, you shouldn't be going anywhere," said Henley.

Estimated Totals

Snow totals could vary from a few inches to more than one foot of snow. Glenn sums it up:

"I think 10+ inches is going to cover most of the area," said Glenn.

• 14+ Inches: Wilmington; northern Delaware; Chester County; and western South Jersey
• 10+ inches: Philadelphia; I-95 Corridor, Camden city; Trenton; northern and western suburbs; South Jersey closest to Philly; and central Delaware
• 6+ inches: The Poconos, Lehigh Valley, higher elevations; and southern Delaware
• 4+ inches: Jersey Shore (significant coastal flooding expected); and southernmost Delaware

"The real questions are at the edges -- up toward the Poconos and Lehigh Valley -- will the snow be heavy enough? And right down the shore, how much (snow) is going to be mixed in with rain," said Glenn.

The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team will be refining and updating predictions as more information becomes available.

Timing

Friday

8 p.m. to midnight - Snow starts south to north

Saturday

Midnight to 4 a.m. - Snow continues to spread

4 a.m. to noon -  Heaviest snow, winds increase.

Noon to 8 p.m. - Snow inland (mixing with rain south and east) with possible blizzard conditions.

8 p.m. to early Sunday - Snow tapers off, very windy.

Getting Ready

Mike Dunn, deputy communications director for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, said city trucks started treating some streets Wednesday night.

"At this point, it is all about being prepared," he said.

PennDOT mechanics were busy making sure trucks were cleaned and in good repair so all equipment is ready to go whenever the snow starts falling, spokesman Gene Blaum said.

"We've used virtually no salt," so far this season, he said. "But winter isn't over."

Flooding at the Shore

Besides the snow, there is also a concern at the Jersey Shore due to the combination of a high tide, full moon, a wintry mix and onshore wind gusts up to 60 mph. The storm surge could be the worst since Superstorm Sandy.

High Tide Times for Jersey Shore and Coastal Delaware

Saturday: 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Saturday: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Sunday: 7:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. (this could be the worst tide when it comes to flooding.)

If you live at the Shore or have property there, you should be taking precautions now to minimize damage from coastal flooding. Flooding from the bay could also impact parts of Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware.

Wind Worries

Wind is going to be a component to this storm. Blizzards have defined wind (35+ mph), snow and visibility of a 1/4 mile or less. A watch means it could possibly happen in the Philadelphia region.

That kind of wind could cause power outages, especially if there’s heavy wet snow. Even if we dodge the snow-to-rain changeover bullet, there will be several warmer hours during the storm where we could see gloppy, heavy big flake snow.

"The type of snow might be different at different times during the storm," said Glenn.

Toward the end of the storm, temps will fall again and snow will get lighter and fluffier. You’re going to want to get on that wet snow early before it gets buried and freezes solid. It will be much harder to shovel after that.

"This is one you're going to want to get ahead of and clear as much as you can on Sunday because it's going to freeze solid on Monday morning," said Bill.

The lesson here … stay tuned and check in with the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team on air and on NBC10.com as the storm approaches.

A dump truck overturned and crushed a van along a busy South Jersey road Thursday morning leaving one person dead and causing traffic troubles.

Traffic could only get by on the shoulder before being stopped entirely after the deadly wreck along Route 70 near Lakehurst Road (County Route 530) in Browns Mills, Burlington County around 7 a.m.

The wreck left one person dead and the truck's load on the roadway, said county dispatchers.

As SkyForce10 hovered overhead after the crash, you could see the yellow dump truck on its side -- the front of the cab torn off. The wreck tore the roof off a white van that wound up backwards on the shoulder.

Traffic backed up at least a mile behind the crash.

After more than four hours, the crash investigation continued.

With a major winter storm bearing down on the East Coast, some airlines are letting people change their flights from some airports without charging the usual fee.

Airports in New York, Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. are among those affected by the travel fee waivers, which are being offered by United, American Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue and others.

The winter storm, expected to sweep through the mid-Atlantic Friday, could bring up to two feet of snow in D.C. and Baltimore, with icing expected further south. The waivers affect flights scheduled for Friday-Sunday to and from airports in the storm's path, from North Carolina to Massachusetts.

Fees for changing flights often cost over $100, but airlines sometimes make exceptions for severe weather, when cancellations are expected.

"You don't want a lot of people sleeping on cots in the airport," said George Hobica, founder of flight analyst site Airfarewatchdog.com.

For this storm, the policies and affected airports vary by airline. United, for example, is waiving the change fee and any difference in fare for travelers rebooking flights scheduled between Jan. 22-24, as long as their departure and arrival cities don't change, the new ticket is booked for the same cabin, and the new flight leaves no later than Jan. 27.

Hobica noted that travelers have other winter storm options as well, including travel insurance they may have already purchased. He said that if their flight is canceled to remember to apply for a full refund.

"There are always some flights that end up going out, and if you really want to get where you want to be going, it's possible that you can show up to the airport and take your chances," Hobica said.

A major storm is headed to the Philadelphia metro area, with the NBC10 First Alert team warning some areas can expect one foot of snow.

And there's still time to prepare.

Read on for some tips to help you cope with this dangerously cold weather at home, in your car or when caring for your pets:

AROUND YOUR HOME

1. Stay indoors if possible. If you must go outdoors, officials urge you dress warmly and wear loosefitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Wear a scarf over your mouth to protect your lungs.
2. Watch for signs of hypothermia, including uncontrollable shivering, weak pulse, disorientation, incoherence and drowsiness, and frostbite, including gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness and waxy-feeling skin.
3. Have safe emergency heating equipment in your home, as well as a flashlight, portable radio and three days' worth of food in case the power goes out.
4. To prevent frozen pipes, State Farm suggests letting your hot and cold faucets drip overnight and open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks on exterior walls.
5. Find the water shut-off valve in your home in advance of a water emergency, so you know where to go if a pipe bursts, D.C. Water spokesperson Pamela Mooring advised.
6. Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
7. If you' are going away for an extended period of time, be sure to maintain adequate heat inside your home at no lower than 55 degrees.
8. Do not place a space heater within three feet of anything combustible.
9. Go ahead and program your local utility contact information into your cellphone now, before you need them. 

   Important Utility Numbers include:

        — PECO: 1-800-841-4141
        — PSE&G: 1-800-436-7734
        — PP&L: 1-800-342-5775
        — Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476
        — Delmarva Power: 1-800-375-7117

• Severe Weather Alerts

KEEPING YOUR CAR SAFE AND RUNNING

10. If your car battery is three years old or older, it is more likely to fail as temperatures drops, according to AAA. Never attempt to charge or jump-start a battery that is frozen, as it may rupture or explode.
11. Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
12. Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
13. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
14. If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
15. Wintry weather can contribute to the deterioration of your windshield wipers. Worn blades streak and impair vision, which is critical during winter months. AAA says wiper blades should be replaced every year.
16. Keep your washer fluid topped off with winter formula fluid so it won't freeze. Many of your car's fluids should be checked once a month.

KEEPING YOUR PET(S) SAFE

17. Keep your pets inside. Dogs and cats left outside can freeze, get injured or become lost.
18. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang on the hood of your car before starting the engine to give them a chance to escape.
19. The ASPCA suggests wiping your dogs' legs, feet and abdomens when they come in from snowy or icy conditions. Dogs can ingest salt, antifreeze and other chemicals when licking their paws.
20. Never leave your pet inside a car unattended.

Get the latest weather from NBCPhiladelphia.com:

• Severe Weather Alerts: click here
• Interactive Radar: click here
• Complete Weather Coverage: click here

Britax is recalling about 49,000 Britax B-Ready strollers and replacement top seats due to a choking hazard posted by the foam padding on the stroller’s arm bar. 

The foam padding can come off in fragments if the child bites the arm bar, posing a choking hazard.

The company said in a recall notice that it has received 117 reports of children biting the arm bar foam padding, including five reports of children choking or gagging on foam fragments.

The recall affects Britax B-Ready strollers and B-Ready replacement top seats that were sold separately. The strollers were sold at Babies R Us, buybuy Baby, Target and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Diapers.com and other websites from April 2010 through January 2016 for about $500. The B-Ready strollers have a silver or black frame with a solid-colored top seat in a variety of colors. The stroller’s model number and date of manufacture are printed on a label on the stroller’s frame between the front wheels or on the inside frame that connects to the back right wheel.

The replacement top seats were sold separately by Britax from April 2010 through January 2016 for about $150 in a variety of colors and fit into the stroller’s frame. The replacement top seat’s model number and date of manufacture are printed on a black label on the right side tube above the adjuster button, under the fabric cover.

People who are using the strollers affected by the recall should immediately remove the arm bar fand replacement top seats and contact Britax for a free black, zippered arm bar cover and a warning label to apply to the strollers and replacement top seats. Consumers can continue to use their strollers without the arm bar attached, according to the company. 

Consumers can contact Britax at 800-683-2045 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET on Friday, by email at Britax.Recall@britax.com or online at www.us.britax.com and click on Safety Notice at the top right.

What We Know
A major snowstorm will hit the area Friday night and last into Sunday morning, with many parts of our area getting 10 inches or more snow. The storm will be even more severe in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas and less severe in New York City and Boston. This will cause a transportation nightmare for much of the East Coast.

The storm will start as snow, but not until after 6 p.m. Friday. Many roads will be pre-treated, so it might take until after midnight before conditions really go downhill. Travel Saturday is simply not recommended for most of the area, and the poor travel conditions may continue into Sunday morning.

Areas to Get Hit Hardest
This storm is a bit different from the typical winter storm, where our northern & western suburbs get the most snow, with less toward Delaware and New Jersey. The track of this one is a bit farther south than a “classic” track, so the heaviest snow should occur in parts of Delaware, Philadelphia, and much of South Jersey. This includes the counties of: New Castle, Kent, Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, lower Montgomery, lower Bucks, Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, and inland Atlantic.

The Biggest Questions
The most uncertainty comes at both ends of our area. In the Poconos and Lehigh Valley, the storm track may be too far south for the huge snow totals. And, at the Jersey Shore and Delaware Beaches, winds off the relatively warm ocean may change snow to rain for enough hours to keep snow totals down.

A Blizzard?
As of Thursday afternoon, a Blizzard Watch is in effect for the counties listed above that will get the most snow. There is a strict definition of "blizzard:"
1. Heavy snow
2. Sustained winds (or frequent gusts) of 35-plus mph
3. Very low visibility (1/4 mile or less)
4. These conditions exist for at least three-straight hours

A Blizzard Watch means those conditions are possible, mainly Saturday. A blizzard is more dangerous than a regular, big snowstorm. Cars can get stranded under blizzard conditions. No one should be driving during a blizzard unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Major Coastal Flooding?
There are three factors that could lead to major coastal flooding with this storm:

1. Strong pressure contrast from HIGH to the north and LOW south
2. Slow-movement of storm
3. Full moon (tides would be high even without a storm)

Some computer models have even suggested the potential for coastal flooding in South Jersey and Delaware Beaches close to that from Superstorm Sandy.

The red area right along the New Jersey coastline is about 50 mph. Gusts would be even higher. Onshore winds will occur over three-straight high tides, with the water getting higher for each one. By Sunday morning, major coastal flooding is possible along some of our beaches.

How Much Snow?
We will continue to update and refine the snow maps as the storm gets closer. But here is our latest map:

The man accused of ambushing and unloading a stolen police gun on an on-duty Philadelphia police officer is set to appear in a Philadelphia court for a preliminary hearing Monday.

Edward Archer faces attempted murder and other charges related to what Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross called the "attempted assassination" of officer Jesse Hartnett in West Philadelphia back on January 7.

FBI officials said last week that their investigation concluded that Archer was not part of a terror cell and that there were no indications that additional attacks were imminent.

Archer remains locked up at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility after bail was denied.

Officer Hartnett's condition was upgraded to stable earlier this week, recovering from injuries sustained in the shooting.