Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Mid-Atlantic is entering an extended period of elevated winter weather risk as lingering cold across the region keeps the threat for additional snowstorms high through mid-February, following one of the most expansive winter systems of the season.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic are expected to remain below normal through the Feb. 7–20 period. With cold air firmly entrenched, any storm system tracking through the Ohio Valley or along the East Coast would likely fall as snow, and longer-range outlooks continue to support an active pattern capable of producing heavy accumulations.
The renewed concern comes on the heels of Winter Storm Fern, a massive system that swept from Texas to Maine and impacted more than two dozen states. Fern dropped nearly two feet of snow in parts of New York and interior Pennsylvania, with widespread totals exceeding a foot reported across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. The storm created hazardous travel along Interstates 76, 78, 80, 81, 95, and 83, forced school closures, and caused scattered power outages as heavy snow and gusty winds moved through the region.
With cold conditions expected to persist, communities from New York City and northern New Jersey through central Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia could face renewed disruptions if similarly strong systems develop. Transportation agencies warn that repeated snow events may strain plowing operations, while persistent cold increases the risk of ice buildup on untreated roads, bridges, and overpasses.
Emergency management officials across the Mid-Atlantic are urging residents to prepare now by checking heating systems, restocking winter emergency supplies, and planning for potential travel delays. While the exact timing of future storms remains uncertain, forecasters say the overall pattern supports continued winter threats. Additional advisories and warnings may be issued as confidence increases, with cold air and the risk of heavy snow likely remaining a recurring concern across the Mid-Atlantic through mid-February.
