Drizzle, Snizzle, and Mix of the Two To Start April

Radar this morning is showing a messy storm system that is slowly getting its act together -- farther east and less wrapped up than anticipated.   We have a couple of batches of precipitation across Eastern and Central Pennsylvania this morning -- rain in some locations, mix of snow/rain in others, with snow in the higher elevations to the north of the city.    Since the event is a "dud" from a snowstorm standpoint and generally a minor, nuisance event in the Poconos the winter storm warning has been downgraded to an advisory until 10 AM.

The game should get in today -- perhaps delayed and that depends on how quick the precipitation in Pennsylvania can lift out of the region.   Guidance suggests steady precipitation should end in the city around Noon, which means the game should be played since the precipitation around town is light enough to cause too many impacts.  It doesn't mean the weather will be ideal by any stretch and it is possible a couple of showers could linger through the afternoon.

Until the precipitation ends, expect the light rain, drizzle, some snowflakes mixing in as this mess moves on through slowly over the next several hours.   Despite the drear...April snowflakes bring May allergy headaches?   Had to think of something that rhymed with flakes...

Update, 7:30 AM:   Rain/snow mix or just outright light snow across the suburbs now as the main axis of the upper level energy is working through and precipitation rates are just heavy enough to bring the snowflakes down to the surface.  It wouldn't surprise me if coating accumulations occurred over the next hour or two, especially in elevated areas north and west of the city.

More:   Current Weather Page

Opening Day & Weather Together

Tomorrow marks the first day of the 2011 MLB Season -- a first in a long time for baseball to start its season in the middle of the week as opposed to the early parts of the week, which have been the "traditional" opening day(s) for baseball teams for nearly 30 years.   The last time the Phillies didn't open on either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday was in 1995, when their season started on a Wednesday in St. Louis (thank you 1994 Strike).  The 1982 season was the last time a regularly scheduled (and fully played) season started late week.   The switch to a late week start was made in order to start the season for everyone on/around April 1st and, more importantly, get the postseason done by the end of October so games wouldn't be played too late into November going forward.

Weather-wise, the eastern and northeastern parts of the country will have the most risk for delays and cancellations between Thursday night and Friday.  Given that the Yankees play Thursday during the day and not Friday, that the Red Sox are in Texas, and the Mets are in South Florida that leaves the Phillies.   Timing-wise, the storm is looking (as of midday) like it should be out of Philadelphia comfortably in time for the scheduled 1:05 PM start.   Whether the precipitation type in this storm is willing to cooperate (rain is better in this case than snow) remains to be seen but the Phillies game does have the "best" chance to have some sort of delay or postponement.   The Yankees game could run into some rain during the late afternoon hours, particularly towards dinner, as rain from the potential coastal storm begins to work up the coast.

While the rest of the country should have better weather, the Midwest could see some showers, which may dampen play in St. Louis and Kansas City tomorrow.  Other than that, much of the country should enjoy decent weather and in the West and South, rather warm temperatures for the end of March and beginning of April.   At least someone is enjoying Spring!