Initial Snow Totals In, Blizzard Watch to Go into Effect Friday
OLD CITY (WTXF) - A Blizzard Watch has been posted for most of the Philadelphia area late Friday through Sunday morning. Initial totals are in, but remember, so much can still change.
This Friday is when the real winter weather has a good chance of hitting, with as much as a foot and a half of snow possible in some parts of the region.
FOX 29's Winter Weather Authority is tracking the formation of the storm in the middle of the United States Thursday morning.
Snow is now expected to arrive between 8 and 11 p.m. on Friday, with 1 to 2 inches falling per hour and up to 12-18 inches total in some parts of the region, especially along the I-95 corridor. The heavy, wet snow will likely last on & off through Saturday night, with some mixing of sleet and rain expected too, especially south and east of the city.
Meanwhile, Governor Wolf declared a state of emergency in Pennsylvania on Thursday afternoon.
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The developing cut off between rain and snow Friday night will likely have a dramatic effect on the totals.
By 4:00 a.m. the snowfall will likely increase in intensity.
Meanwhile, a factor that should not be ignored is the wind. No matter how much we get, the snow will be blowing around. Heavy snow piled up on power lines and trees which are also being blown in the wind could cause issues of their own.
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The FOX 29 Weather Authority will continue to monitor the storm for the possibility of a change in track that could mean dramatic increases or decreases in predicted snow totals.
Don't forget to download the FOX 29 Weather Authority App for the latest on the storm, including automated weather alerts based on your location.
See the Winter Weather Authority seven-day forecast above.