Winter storm could bring snow, but not for everyone. Get a look at estimated totals

What to Know about winter storm

• We are expecting a winter storm to impact neighborhoods throughout the Delaware and Lehigh valleys this weekend, beginning Saturday afternoon.
• The storm has a way to go still until it arrives, so now is the time to get prepared.
• Be sure to keep checking back with NBC10 News on air, online and in our app for the latest storm tracks, snow/rain predictions and timing.

The first significant snow in about two years could hit parts of the Philadelphia region this weekend, however it isn’t expected to snow everywhere.

We want to make sure you have time to get ready for whatever Mother Nature brings. So, get your snow shovels ready and stay tuned to see if you’ll need them where you live.

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Days ahead of the first flakes potentially falling on Saturday, here’s what we know so far about how the storm may impact Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, the Pennsylvania suburbs, South Jersey and Delaware into Sunday.

What we know about the snow, rain chances at this point

The storm system was moving eastward across the country Thursday after dumping snow on the Lake Tahoe area. It could develop into a nor’easter as it approaches the Delaware and New Jersey coasts this weekend.

Currently, the storm has a long way to go before it will reach our region. Because of this, the exact path of the storm is still uncertain, but it’s expected to start impacting the area starting midday Saturday.

Indications now suggest that the storm could intensify by Saturday evening, continuing with a mix of snow and rain overnight into Sunday morning. Lingering showers will taper off Sunday.

Many neighborhoods should see some snow falling on the front end of the storm. As with many storms, however, the rain/snow line is critical. Warmer air is expected to push inland across South Jersey and Delaware, but as the storm progresses the warm air surging in will push the rain/snow line into the Pennsylvania suburbs.

So, what this means is that some of snow that falls in the beginning of the storm is going to be washed away by the falling rain.

Temps hover around or just above freezing points north and west of I-95 and in the 40s — or even up to 50 — along the Jersey Shore and Delaware.

For the Jersey Shore, most of South Jersey and Delaware this is a mainly rain event.

However, the northern and western Pennsylvania suburbs could see inches of accumulating snow — with the greatest likelihood for snow in the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. People in those colder neighborhoods will likely need to dust off the snow shovels and snow blowers.

The storm’s trajectory is what we’ll be focusing on over the next couple days as it’s crucial in determining how bad it will be in various neighborhoods.

How much snow — if any any — will fall in your neighborhood?

We got our first look at estimated snow totals as of Thursday morning.

Points south and east of Philadelphia aren’t expected to get much — if any — snow, while neighborhoods north and west could get several inches.

Estimated snow totals

Berks County, Lehigh Valley, Poconos – 5 to 8 inches – sleet mixing in could knock down totals

Northern and western parts of Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties – 3 to 5 inches

Southern parts of Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties, Delaware County, northern and western Philadelphia, parts of Mercer County – 1 to 3 inches

Southernmost and easternmost parts of Delco, Philly and Bucks counties and South Jersey suburbs – less than an inch

Some places aren’t expected to get much — if any snow — while others could get several inches.

Note these estimated snow totals could change as the storm approaches and its impacts become clearer.

When was the last time we had significantly measurable snow in Philadelphia?

The storm will exit the area by early Sunday morning, and lingering flurries are possible into Sunday afternoon. Now is the time to plan ahead for the first significant winter storm in two seasons as Philly could break its longest snowless streak on record.

Philadelphia last had measurable snow on Feb. 1, 2023, when a meager 0.3 of an inch fell.

The last time Philadelphia got more than an inch of snow was more than 700 days ago! On Jan. 29, 2022, 5.8 inches of snow fell in Philadelphia, which helped the total snowfall for that storm at Philadelphia International Airport top out at 7.5 inches. Since then, Philly hasn’t seen more than an inch of snow on any day.

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That same January 2022 storm left nearly 2 feet of snow in parts of New Jersey.

Now is the time to prepare for the storm

Road crews and emergency officials have spent days getting ready for whatever falls from the sky.

With days to prepare, you should take steps now. Dig out the snow shovel and ice melt, grab that ice scraper and put it in your car, make sure to clear out gutters (that can even help if it rains) and potentially grab your sled out of the basement.

Here’s the full checklist to make sure you’re ready for whatever this storm brings:

Here’s the checklist for the possible January 2024 snow.

As for your car, make sure you have your tires inflated and plenty in the trunk, including some extra windshield wiper fluid and kitty litter.

Flooding concerns

Well snow is often the focus of any winter storm, there is a chance for excessive rainfall from this storm. That could lead to localized flooding — especially along streams, rivers and along the coast.

The greatest flood threats are from the I-95 corridor into South Jersey and Delaware, where mostly rain is expected.

Flooding is a concern in places where mostly rain falls.

We have been saturated with a lot of rain recently, which adds to the threat. Add in an expected rainstorm in the middle of next week, and flooding remains a concern.

Stay ahead of the storm with NBC10

Be sure to have your phone and other devices charged up with the latest version of the NBC10 app downloaded. We will have updated forecast, snow projections and live interactive radar leading up to and during the winter storm online and on air.