Arctic Blast Headed To PA, Major Cool Down Coming

PENNSYLVANIA — A blast of cold air is barreling toward Pennsylvania and will bring frigid conditions to the area by Friday night.

Temperatures across Eastern Pennsylvania will nose dive Friday, dropping as much as 40 degrees from Thursday daytime to Friday night. With lows in the teens expected overnight Friday to Saturday, the upcoming blast could bring coldest air the region has experienced so far this season, AccuWeather predicts.

"By Saturday morning, many thermometers in the region will be registering their lowest marks of the winter or may come within a couple of degrees of the season's benchmark set way back in mid-December, during an earlier outbreak of Arctic air," AccuWeather forecasters said.

While the air might feel like winter, don't get excited for snow. Precipitation isn't in the forecast during the cold blast, which will only last through Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

The high temperature Sunday will be back up to the upper 40s. By Tuesday, temperatures will creep up to the mid 50s. The average temperature in Philadelphia in February is in the low 40s.

But forecasters aren't giving up on the possibility of a snow storm just yet.

"Back-and-forth mild and cold weather conditions are likely to continue for the remainder of the month," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

History indicates it's possible: Four of Philadelphia's top 10 days for snowfall totals have fallen in February, including nearly 22 inches on Feb. 6, 2010, 21 inches on Feb. 11, and 16 inches on Feb. 16, 2003.

So far, the mild winter has been filled with rain, thunderstorms, and spring-like temperatures.

Last week, destructive storms pummeled the area, leaving thousands without power and roads closed due to multiple downed trees. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued due to high winds and possible hail.

Record-breaking high temperatures were recorded in January.

Here is the local forecast:

Today: Periods of rain before noon, then a chance of showers, mainly between noon and 3 p.m. High near 54. West wind 6 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 31. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 13. North wind 6 to 9 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 32. Light and variable wind becoming south around 6 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

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

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Tuesday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.