Philadelphia Weather: Messy Mix Of Rain, Snow To Impact Evening Commute In Delaware Valley

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A messy mix of wintry weather has arrived to impact the evening commute home across the Delaware Valley. A winter weather advisory will be in effect for Philadelphia and the surrounding area from 5 p.m. until midnight.

Parts of the Delaware Valley could see one to two inches of snow, while localized amounts up to four inches is possible in South Jersey.

The area is expected to see light rain and snow until during the evening commute, and then snow and heavy bands are possible from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. The snow should wrap up by midnight.

The day will start out dry, with clouds moving in by late morning. The precipitation will likely begin after 4 p.m., starting as light rain to the southeast and possibly a rain and snow mix in the city, with areas of light snow or snow showers to the north and west.

Once the sun goes down and colder air arrives, the system will be strengthening offshore and the rain will change over to a period of snow.

This is a quick-hitting system and temperatures will be well above freezing at the surface, but there is a chance that snow could briefly come down heavily, especially over interior South Jersey later Tuesday night, leading to slightly higher accumulation totals.

Areas to the south and east will be very track- and timing-dependent, but if the rain changes over to a brief period of heavy snow, localized amounts of over an inch are possible.

The system will exit the coast by midnight, leaving a colder, windy day for Wednesday with the chance of a stray snow shower or squall.

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