Category Archives: Winter Weather

Saturday Philly Snow Update

The NAM and GFS model’s 1 AM runs have come together with a QPF of about 0.15 inches water for Philadelphia, or about 2, maybe 3 inches of snow (due to a higher snow:water ratio).

For Philadelphia, the snow starts about daybreak or so and the models have light snow continuing through about 4PM.   For 8 hours of snowfall, 2-3 inches total snowfall is very light.

It still looks like a much more significant snowfall for southeastern NJ.

While the current radar trends are consistent with last night’s models, this is still a lower than usual confidence forecast. Any late change in intensification could throw the snow totals off in either direction.

Snow Update

The latest NAM data has become available.  QPF values for Philadelphia is 0.28 inches of water or about 4 inches, with cold temperatures and a high snow:water ratio greater than the usual 10:1.

This forecast is below average confidence.  This storm will involve late phasing of the northern and southern jet streams. The intensification will be occurring as it approaches and modeling often misses this scenario.  The models show a very sharp cutoff north and west.

Sometimes the best forecast is one that emphasizes that just don’t know how much snow.  It could be much more or much less.

4 inches for Philadelphia is a best guess. Less north and west, much more south and east.