Technical Discussion

Synopsis

A low pressure system strengthening of the coast of New Jersey will continue to move northeast ward throughout the day.  As it does, it will pull with it the mixed precipitation currently falling over the eastern portion of the state. The area of low pressure brings another round of light precipitation across the state for the second half of the day.  Precipitation will clear out until early Friday morning when another low approaches from the west.

Short-term

The low off of southern New Jersey will continue to strengthen and move northeast today. The southerly flow due to the storm still to our west has ushered in warm air over most of the state. Cold air has remained entrenched at the surface, however, and the result has been precipitation in the form of sleet and freezing this morning. This mixed precipitation will continue to clear out of the eastern part of the state giving way to a brief break before the western storm approaches this evening. The storm is forecast to weaken but should still manage to spread a period of light snow or rain across the state. Wednesday will see a high pressure system bringing a break to the disruptive weather.

Long-term

The break brought about from the high pressure will be sure lived, as another low is forecast to approach from the southwest. The low should stay to our south and east keeping most if not all of the state in the cold quadrant for most of the storm. This could result in a wide spread, plowable snowfall all the way from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. Behind this storm, a deep upper level trough digs into the eastern half of the country. The northeast flow will cause temperatures to drop close to their lowest levels of the winter so far as evidenced by the approach of the 510 thickness line towards Pennsylvania.    

Steven Fuhrman and Mary Morris