PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia region is expected to get its first measurable snowfall of the season this weekend. Some areas across Pennsylvania could see upwards of 4 inches.
Snow is expected to start falling around 6 p.m. Saturday. It will be light at first, but could reach up to ½ inch to 1 inch per hour in some areas in the northwest and southwest. It’s expected to last until Sunday morning, tapering off around 6 a.m.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday — the same time the Eagles play. Temperatures are expected to drop Sunday afternoon into the night, with wind gusts making it feel like it's in the teens during the game. With lots of fans expected to head into South Philly to watch the Birds, PennDOT’s Brad Rudolph advises drivers to be extra cautious on the roads.
“Take it easy, take it slow, of course, knowing the conditions before you hit the road, you know, the timing of the storm is precarious on a Saturday evening where a lot of folks are out and about,” he said.
Rudolph said crews have been preparing for the storm since Thursday to prevent ice from forming on the roads. He said once the snow starts on Saturday, expect to see a lot of trucks treating the roadways.
“It'll be a full call out of all of our state trucks, which is about 165 state trucks in the five-county region, and then we have the ability to call about 260-265 contractor trucks. We plan to use a majority of those, so we're looking at over 400 trucks across the region.”
❄️Winter driver checklist❄️
✔ Start with a full tank of gas.
✔ Bring along a collapsible shovel and a bag of salt or kitty litter.
✔ Allow for extra time.
✔ Slow down.
✔ Increase following distances.
✔ Pay attention to on-ramps and off-ramps.
Rudolph said to be careful on foot, too, as sidewalks, stairs and driveways can get pretty slippery.
Vehicle restrictions will go into effect at 2 p.m. Saturday. A list can be found on 511pa.com.
NJDOT is also advising drivers to take it slow on the roads and use caution.