Coastal Storm Is Next Chance For Snow In PA

PENNSYLVANIA — Meteorologists are watching a coastal storm that could impact the Philadelphia region with wintry precipitation over the weekend.

According to the Weather Channel, the severity of the storm and its impacts will depend on how close the system tracks to the coast. Snow, rain, or a mix is possible in the Philadelphia region if it stays close enough to the coast.

"Little or no impacts can be expected along the East Coast if the low-pressure system tracks farther offshore. Conversely, a track of the low closer to the coast would increase the chance of impacts from rain, snow or wind," forecasters with The Weather Channel reported.

As of Tuesday, there is uncertainty in the storm's track, forecasters say.

"The track of the storm is highly prone to shifting in the coming days, and the exact track of the storm will be a huge factor in how intense the storm will be for a given location," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said in a news release.

If the storm materializes, forecasters currently estimate it would be most impactful in the Philadelphia region on Saturday.

On Saturday morning, there's a chance of snow before 9 a.m., then a chance of rain during the day as temperatures go up to the mid-40s. Overnight Saturday into Sunday, there's a chance of rain and snow overnight, the National Weather Service said.

Areas near and west of I-95 could see some snowfall or a rain-and-snow mix. Rain is most likely near the immediate coast, forecasters said.

By Sunday, the forecast for the region calls for partly sunny skies and a high near 44.

Since daytime high temperatures will be well above freezing on Saturday and Sunday, snowfall potential could be limited. The storm is also "fast-moving," the Weather Channel noted, which could limit accumulations.

It's much too early to predict if the storm will result in snow or just rain. Check back to Patch for updates.

Here is the current forecast:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. North wind around 6 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 9 a.m., then a chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain before 1am, then a chance of rain and snow between 1am and 4 a.m., then a chance of snow after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44.