Good morning everyone. I hope your week has been going well. I have a lot to cover in the post, including this weekend’s storm; your attention is appreciated.
The Second Prediction of 60% Delay, 40% Closing still stands for tomorrow; the Final Prediction will be issued later this evening.
I have been watching this weekend’s storm with a very close eye and I am concerned for its potential impacts. As the storm passes, it will be riding along a tight thermal gradient (warm and cold air mass are very close to each other); this will likely result in heavy precipitation rates. North of this boundary (far Northern PA), locations will likely see 12 to 18 inches of snow. Along the boundary (locations between Scranton and the Lehigh Valley, including the Poconos) will likely receive significant icing (a quarter, perhaps a half an inch in some locations). As the storm passes, temperatures will rapidly drop into the teens and the single digits, resulting in a flash freeze for the area. Any slush on roadways will likely freeze over, creating additional travel concerns for Monday. While most schools are off due to MLK Day, some are open as a snow-makeup day.
When combining moderate winds into the equation, region-wide power outages are probable and travel disruptions are very likely. The timing will be from Saturday evening (after dusk) lasting until late Sunday afternoon. I anticipate Winter Storm Watches to be issued for our area within the next 24 hours or so.
If you have not signed up for the Premium site, this is the best time to do so. The site provides school closing predictions, road impacts by time of day, and precipitation forecasts for 12 counties across NE PA, including Scranton and the Lehigh Valley. The graphics are high quality and are optimized for mobile devices. Take a look!
https://34.73.99.199index.php/premium/
I will provide updates later this evening and as more information becomes available. While forecast details can still change (for better or for worse), make sure you prepare accordingly for this event. Have a great day everyone and thank you for the support.
