March will begin with a lot of white as a major snowstorm makes its way to the region this weekend. By the time it moves out Monday evening, the storm could drop up to a foot of snow in some parts of the area.
NBC10 First Alert Chief Meteorologist Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz says the large storm system, which is currently over California, will race across the country over the weekend. The storm’s outer edge will be arriving in the northern and western suburbs by Sunday afternoon, he says.
“It’s going to start off kind of tame. Sunday afternoon temperatures will be well above freezing. It might start as a little rain, if there’s a little sleet, that would be melting too, but as the night goes on, conditions go downhill and we start to see the transition from sleet then snow,” Hurricane says.
Temperatures will fall from the upper 40 degrees into the 20s as the storm moves in helping to keep the precipitation either snow or ice for most.
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MISERABLE MONDAY
As the temperatures drop with the storm’s arrival, the precipitation will transition from rain to sleet and then to snow. That snow is expected to come down heavily at times and last for many hours.
“Anything that falls during the day Monday is all snow,” Hurricane says. “I think the weather will be bad enough Monday morning that people won’t be doing a lot of traveling.”
Hurricane expects Monday to be a snow day for most and urges anyone who have unbreakable plans that morning to make arrangements because traveling will be tough.
“If you have to go somewhere Monday morning, it may not be safe to do it,” he said. “So people need to think now about what kind of alternate plans they can make.”
EXPECTED ACCUMULATIONS
Here’s how the accumulations are expected to shake out from this March snowstorm:
The Lehigh Valley, Poconos and Northern and Western Pa. Suburbs
8-12 inches of snow
Philadelphia, South Jersey and Northern Delaware
6-10 inches of snow
The Jersey Shore and Central and Southern Delaware
4-8 inches of snow
THE STORM TIMELINE
SUNDAY
Afternoon -- Snow and ice to the far north and west; some rain further east
Evening – Snow and ice spreads to the south and east
MONDAY
Midnight to 6 a.m. – Snow increasing across the area
6 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Snowstorm in full effect; Icy mix to the south and east
The snow will taper off in stages across the region Monday evening as the storm moves out of the region, according to Hurricane. Behind the storm will be very cold air for the next few days. Hurricane says that will prevent melting.
NBC10.com and the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team will continue to update you with the latest information as it becomes available. Continue to check back here and NBC10 News on TV.
Photo Credit: AP