Snow: Up to 3 inches already
Snow continues, but late-March sun mightier than road salt.
Snow: Up to 3 inches already
Back in the winters of 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, we were measuring snow with yardsticks. This has been the season of the micrometer.
So in the realm of relativity, the snowfall totals thus far are impressive.
Generally, we are seeing 1 to 3 inches north and west and of the city, with the heftiest amounts in Chester County, and 1 to 2 inches in South Jersey.
Officially, 0.6 has been measured at Philadelphia Intnerational Airport/National Park, Gloucester County.
Given the circumstances, the snow has been resourceful. For one thing, it is working without any seriously cold air. It is generating its own chill, with the atmosphere cooling as snow falls through it.
For another, the late-March sun is snow-killer, and unless the snow becomes extremely heavy, most of the roads will remain wet and blackened.
This is anoher case in which elevation is key. We noticed this morning that in the hills, winter wonderland enchanted the landscape. Closer to sea level, the enchantment factor dropped off precipitously.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter-storm warning for South Jersey for 4 to 6 inches of snow, with up to 4 on the Pennsylvania side of the river.
But not much of that is likely to accumulate on road surfaces.
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Tony Wood has been writing about the atmosphere for The Inquirer for 26 years. E-mail Tony here. And read all his columns here.
