Philadelphia, Pa. – Slippery roads are already developing across parts of eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey, and drivers on I-95, I-76 and I-476 could encounter icy patches before 9 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, light snow and freezing rain will continue through the morning commute before warmer air pushes most areas over to plain rain by early afternoon. Ice accumulations between a trace and 0.10 inches are expected for much of the Interstate 95 corridor, including Philadelphia, Wilmington and Trenton. Even a few hundredths of an inch can create slick bridges and untreated secondary roads.
The greatest icing risk sits north and west of the city, including the Lehigh Valley and portions of northwest New Jersey near I-78 and I-80. Communities around Allentown, Reading, Morristown and Sussex could see up to one-tenth of an inch of ice, with isolated spots approaching a quarter inch in higher elevations. That level of glaze can weigh down tree limbs and cause isolated power outages.
Snowfall totals remain light for most urban areas, generally under one inch in Philadelphia and along I-95. However, elevations in the Poconos may pick up 1 to 2 inches before the changeover to rain.
PennDOT and NJDOT crews are treating primary highways, but officials urge motorists to slow down, increase following distance and avoid sudden braking. Allow extra travel time through late morning, especially on ramps and overpasses.
Conditions improve from south to north by early afternoon as temperatures climb above freezing. The winter weather advisory remains in effect through late morning for much of the region, and additional updates could be issued if icing lingers.
