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Wintry weather forecast: Some snow, chilly rain and the coldest temps in years

The next week of January weather is expected to pack some snow, some chilly rain and the coldest temps in the Philadelphia region since 2022

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Below average temperatures make for a cold weekend ahead with more snow expected. NBC10 First Alert Weather meteorologist Justin Godynick has your forecast.

Editor's note: This article is no longer being updated as of Thursday, Jan. 16 at 10 p.m.

What to Know

  • It will sure be feeling like winter in the days ahead with snow, chilly rain and the coldest temps Philadelphia has had in years possible.
  • Each day is expected to bring a new weather wrinkle.
  • This guide will help keep you prepared and safe with whatever Mother Nature brings to the Delaware Valley.

Chances for snow, chilly rain and the coldest temperatures the Philadelphia region has experienced in years are on the weather horizon.

It’s a classic January mix of snow, rain and bitter cold, so stay tuned for updates and do your best to stay warm.

The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team is keeping you prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings over the next week. Here's your guide:

Scattered light snow, especially north and west of Philadelphia ❄️

It’s been plenty cold this week, but it has been dry. That’s about to change for some neighborhoods.

Thursday afternoon, a weak system dropping out of Canada brought a chance for some scattered, light snow showers.

The best chance for a seeing some minor accumulation was west of Philadelphia.

The Lehigh Valley and western suburbs and Delaware saw a dusting to half of an inch, with a slight chance of a dusting or so in Philadelphia and South Jersey.

Map of Philadelphia region shows estimated snow totals for Jan. 16, 2025.
NBC10
Map of Philadelphia region shows estimated snow totals for Jan. 16, 2025.

A couple chances for showers, snow this weekend – including during Eagles’ playoff game – but nothing is certain ☔❄️

Friday offers a break with some sunshine and seasonable temperatures in the low 40s. It won’t last as precipitation chances return this weekend.

On Saturday afternoon a chilly light rain moves in. While it might start as snowflakes in the Lehigh Valley, it’ll quickly transition to rain with little to no accumulation. Rainfall totals look to be minimal, with most locations getting around a tenth of an inch.

Sunday’s forecast is trickier, as a system offshore might swing close enough to bring light snow in the afternoon, possibly impacting the Philadelphia Eagles divisional round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams if everything aligns just right, but there’s still a chance it stays offshore entirely.

Meteorologist Bill Henley call Sunday's system it a "wildcard."

"A system passing offshore might come close enough to bring some light snow in the afternoon and into the evening, but it does not look impressive," Bill said. "If it happens, the shore could see about an inch, with just a dusting closer to Philly — maybe just enough to keep the Eagles’ game interesting." 

Map shows potential of Sunday snow in the Philadelphia region.
NBC10
Map shows potential of Sunday snow in the Philadelphia region.

Stay tuned for any possible snow totals Sunday as the forecast comes into focus in the days ahead.

Pipe-freezing chill: the coldest temperatures of winter so far 🥶

The real story starts Monday as an Arctic blast moves in, bringing the coldest air in years.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day turns blustery with highs Monday likely to only reach the middle 20s and wind chills in the lower teens.

Just check out how cold it will be by Tuesday morning as temps throughout the region will feel well below freezing.

Map shows chilly temps on the morning of Jan. 21, 2025.
Map shows chilly temps on the morning of Jan. 21, 2025.

Brutal cold is still expected Tuesday and Wednesday as lows will drop into the single digits, with highs struggling to hit 18.

The last time it got this cold was Christmas Eve 2022. This is the kind of cold that can freeze pipes, so it’s wise to prepare now if that’s been an issue for you before.

Pipes at the Surflight Theater froze and then burst just before Christmas leaving thousands of dollars of damage. NBC10 Jersey Shore Bureau reporter Ted Greenberg has more on what you can do to protect your home during these cold days. 

We’ll stay below freezing from Sunday night through Friday morning. So, get ready to bundle up and stay warm.

As always, be sure to keep checking back with the First Alert Weather Team on NBC10 News and the NBC10 app (download it now) to get the latest forecast.

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