Storm To Bring Snow, Severe Thunderstorms To PA Early This Week

UPDATE: A tornado watch has been issued across the Philadelphia region through 7 p.m. Monday.

PENNSYLVANIA — A multifaceted storm will impact Pennsylvania early this week, bringing accumulating snowfall to some areas and the chance of severe thunderstorms and high winds to others.

A winter weather advisory has been issued in the western part of the state, including in Pittsburgh. But in the eastern portion of the state, including in the Philadelphia region, the conditions are expected to be rain and wind.

The "multifaceted" storm could cause major disruptions to travel, widespread power outages and even property damage, AccuWeather predicts.

On Monday, the storm will be mostly rain in Pennsylvania but as colder weather is drawn in, some areas in the western part of the state can expect precipitation to turn to snow.

In the Philadelphia region, the storm is expected to bring widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and strong wind gusts Monday, which could cause some scattered power outages. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the Philadelphia region, saying showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into early Monday evening.

"These showers and storms will be capable of producing damaging winds," the hazardous weather outlook said.

"The risk of severe thunderstorms with intense downpours, damaging winds and perhaps a couple of isolated tornadoes will extend northward on Monday from eastern Virginia to Massachusetts," AccuWeather explained.

The National Weather Service has issued the winter weather advisory from 1 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday. Some parts of that region are under a winter storm warning, where conditions will be even more extreme.

Southwestern Pennsylvania could see two to four inches of snow, with two to three forecast for the metro Pittsburgh area, the National Weather Service said.

According to the Weather Channel, snow totals could be six inches or more in parts of northeastern Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania and southwest New York state.

"Lake-effect snowbelt locations might see as much as a foot of snowfall, especially in areas with higher terrain. Travel on the Interstate 90 corridor through Cleveland, Erie, Pennsylvania, and areas near and south of Buffalo, New York, could become difficult by later Monday into Tuesday," The Weather Channel said.

Here is the forecast for the Philadelphia region:

Today: Rain before noon, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after noon. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 65. East wind around 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly before 10pm. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday: A chance of showers, mainly between 10am and 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Friday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.