Credit: Gabrielle Spalding
With high temperatures in the 70s on Wednesday, walking outside Thursday morning was like a slap in the face for many, with 24-hour temperature differentials over 30 degrees lower, and with a wind chill, it could feel even colder. This cold air is the precursor to a large low pressure system that will bring a variety of precipitation to the area.
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The fortunate part to this storm system, if you can call it that, is that this is occurring in late February. The warmer temperatures over the last week have helped to warm the ground, lessening the chance of big accumulations, even with sleet and freezing rain. The other side of that coin is that this storm system is occurring when the overall atmospheric profile is warmer. This means that a bulk of what falls will be rain, rather than mostly or all snow.
Waking up Thursday with partly to mostly cloudy skies, and these clouds will persist throughout the day. A passing sprinkle or flurries are possible ahead of the main shield of rain, snow, and ice. Precipitation will start scattered tonight and will increase overnight.
The main part of the moisture comes in around 10 p.m. Thursday, with sleet and freezing rain scattered at first, then widespread by midnight. The changeover to all rain comes in the pre-dawn hours, between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. The timing of this changeover could mean some side road and sidewalks are slick as you head out the door for work or school. Main thoroughfares could also see a few slick spots as well.
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The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Bucks County from 7 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday.
The rain on Friday moves off by noon, and there could be some peeks of sun before nightfall. The weekend looks clear and seasonable to start, with abundant sunshine both days before another hit of cold air in time for the start of the next workweek.
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FORECAST:
Thursday – Overcast. A passing shower or flurry possible. Highs in the upper 30s. Winds from the northeast at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night – Rain, sleet, and freezing rain starting late Thursday night into Friday. Changing to all rain by early morning Friday. Lows in the lower 30s. Winds from the east at 5 to 10 mph.
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Friday – Rain early, ending around midday, otherwise mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid-40s. Winds from the east at 5 to 15 mph.
Friday Night – Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid-20s. Winds from the northwest at 5 to 10 mph.
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Saturday – Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. Winds from the west at 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night – Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid-20s. Winds from the west at 5 to 10 mph.
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Sunday – Sunny with a few passing clouds. Highs in the mid-40s. Winds from the southwest at 5 to 15 mph.
Sunday Night – Mostly clear. Lows in the lower to mid-20s. Winds from the west-northwest around 5 mph.
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Monday – Mostly sunny and cooler. Highs in the mid-30s. Winds from the northwest at 5 to 15 mph.
AVERAGE HIGH – 45
AVERAGE LOW – 28
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