Another Developing System For Weekend

If you thought that last night's ice storm was the last mixed bag event you're going to deal with this winter....think again.   We have another system that's on tap that could spread another array of precipitation types across the Delaware Valley on Saturday.

Computer guidance is suggesting that a storm system will organize in Texas and the Deep South and work into the Gulf of Mexico.   This low will spread snow and ice across coastal Texas and into the South and Southeast.   The low will then lift northeast along the Piedmont and then intensify as it interacts with northern stream energy.   This storm system will spread precipitation into the region on Saturday but with a lack of uber cold air at the surface or to our north this is a marginal snow event in terms of potential snows.

With that said, the Euro and GFS are trying to paint some snow in the region, generally to the north and west and generally as the storm moves past and intensifies.  This intensification could pull down some colder air and lead to a snowy scenario, especially north and west of the city.  Our forecasts as of now reflect the current guidance thinking that this is a mild enough system to bring a mix (or snow start) to rain for the immediate region and suburbs, with the Poconos remaining snowy or turning to a mix for a time.   However, a slight east nudge in track and a fast enough arrival (early Saturday) could result in a more snowy scenario.  This isn't a done deal as rain...or snow...yet in Philadelphia.  

Precipitation wise, this doesn't look like a huge storm system -- generally a quarter to half inch of liquid precipitation  in the immediate area, with a bit more than that likely south and east of the city, where it should be all rain along the coast.   

We'll keep an eye on the trends but monitor the potential that this system could nudge a bit colder and be a bit snowier around town.   Given past trends the last 30 days, colder tends to win out more often than not.