Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Another surge of Arctic air is expected to spill into Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the first full week of February, bringing a renewed stretch of bitter cold, subzero wind chills, and a quieter pattern when it comes to widespread snow.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic are favored to run well below normal from Friday through the following Thursday as strong Arctic high pressure builds across the eastern U.S. At the same time, precipitation probabilities lean below average, signaling fewer large-scale snow systems despite the colder air mass in place.
In Pennsylvania, the coldest conditions are expected across the northern and western counties, including the Allegheny Plateau and north-central regions, where overnight lows could drop below zero. Central Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna Valley will see teens for highs during the coldest stretch. In the Philadelphia metro area, temperatures will remain well below seasonal norms, with frigid mornings, gusty winds, and wind chills falling into the single digits.
Across New Jersey, interior sections of the state, including northwest New Jersey and the I-78 corridor, will see the sharpest cold, while coastal areas from Atlantic City to Cape May remain slightly moderated but still cold and windy. Despite the Arctic air, the prevailing pattern favors dry conditions, limiting the likelihood of major snowstorms. Fast-moving clippers or offshore systems could still bring brief snow or light accumulations with little notice.
Residents are urged to prepare for prolonged cold by protecting pipes, checking heating systems, and limiting extended outdoor exposure. Outlooks will continue to be refined as early February approaches, and additional advisories may be issued if the pattern shifts.
