Credit: Aaron Burden / Unsplash.com
As both Montgomery and Bucks counties have issued Code Blue declarations through next week, the Greater Philadelphia area prepares for snowfall under a “Winter Storm Watch.”
According to the National Weather Service’s Saturday briefing, there is a chance for both freezing rain and accumulating snowfall through Jan. 22. The NWS said that the greatest impacts will be along the Interstate 95 corridor and the northwest of the city. Dangerous cold temperatures also put the region in an “elevated’ or orange caution level.
Accumulation of six to eight inches is expected outside of Philadelphia. Ranges closer to the city are estimated to see three to four inches of snowfall. NWS has forecasted that “snowfall rates could exceed one inch per hour near and northwest of the I-95 corridor.”
The precipitation in combination with “dangerously cold conditions” have most municipalities in the suburbs declaring a state of emergency. NWS said that windchills will dip below zero.
Local residents should follow snow emergency parking laws and abide by all posted signs regarding snow. Assigned signs of the street are created so that snowplows may pass to clear roadways.
According to the NWS forecast, most snowfall is expected largely to fall on Sunday, Jan. 19. The likelihood of freezing rain or rain mixed with snow is greater toward the coast.
Many local services, including parks and trails operated by the collar counties are to remain closed tomorrow due to the expected weather. Anyone planning on traveling outside of their homes over the weekend are advised to check with your location or destination to be sure it is open.
