PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Storm preparation is underway as a winter nor'easter is approaching the Philadelphia region with the promise of snow and strong winds.
The city is expected to get at least six inches with the potential for more in some other parts of the area.
The storm is expected to arrive Sunday and should stick around for a couple of days. Meteorologist Krystal Klei, from the NBC 10 First Alert Weather Center, said the frigid temperatures over the past few days primed the ground for the snow to stick right away.
"We will begin with snow, and it might be kind of light to steady to start into the overnight hours," she explained. "As we get into Monday, we will see a turnover to a mix or rain south of Philly. That is a key component to who sees the highest totals because that will leave us in snow all day long in Philadelphia."
All of this, of course, means tons of work will go into keeping the roads clear. PennDOT's Alexis Campbell said the surfaces have been pre-treated to prevent icy conditions right away, and the plow crews will be ready to roll.
"The name of the game right now is really flexibility, because the storm at this point looks to be so long," she cautioned. "We may have to adjust our plans as we see what’s going on."
Crews from other parts of the state expected to see lower snow totals will be on standby, said Campbell, in case they are needed around here. She emphasized the importance of giving plows and salt trucks enough space to operate safely.
And of course, power outages are always a concern when snow is combined with strong winds, like this storm is expected to deliver.