Philly area residents should plan to stay put Friday evening and overnight into Saturday as a powerful winter storm moves into the region, bringing a dangerous mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
Meteorologists warn that conditions could deteriorate quickly after 3 p.m. Friday, making travel increasingly hazardous through the overnight hours. If you can, plan to be where you need to be before mid-afternoon and avoid unnecessary trips once precipitation begins.
Friday morning will start cloudy with temperatures remaining below freezing. As the storm arrives later in the day, precipitation is expected to fall in different forms depending on location.
While some areas will see mostly snow, others —including Philadelphia— will experience changing conditions that may include sleet and freezing rain.
What makes this storm especially concerning is the ice threat. Even small amounts of freezing rain can create slick, dangerous roads and sidewalks, and forecasters say ice accumulations could reach up to 0.2 inches in parts of the region.
Winter storm- what to expect
- Precipitation begins after 3 p.m. Friday
- The storm tapers off between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday
- Roads may become dangerous due to snowpack or ice
- Flight delays, transit disruptions, and scattered power outages are possible
What are the estimated snow & sleet totals?
Important to note, totals include both snow and sleet and may shift depending on the storm track
- 4-6+ inches (all snow): Parts of the Poconos and Lehigh Valley
- 2-4 inches( snow & sleet): Northeast Philly, Bucks County, Burlington and Mercer counties
- 1-2 inches (snow, sleet, up to 0.2″ ice): Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Camden, Gloucester, and surrounding counties
Looking ahead, meteorologists are tracking another system Sunday night, bringing rain, followed by a blast of bitter cold heading into the final week of 2025.
Be sure to stay alert and stay prepared as winter weather continues to impact the region.