Snow: Up to 5 inches in region
It was all about location, location, location. Rain, mixed with white rain, fell through most of the day in Center City, but some areas to the east and west got an April variety of winter wonderland.
Rain, mixed with white rain, fell through most of the day in Center City, but some areas to the east and west got an April variety of winter wonderland.
National Weather Service observers reported 5 inches at Malvern, 4.7 in Wayne, and 3 and 3-plus amounts in several places, including Valley Forge, Exton, Glen Mills, and Ridley Park west of the river, and Swedsboro, Mullica Hill in Jersey. Here is the weather service list.
The clipper system that moved across the region was capricious with the snowfall, with the melting white stuff doing nothing more than polishing the grass and trees with a wet sheen in parts of the city.
We should note that some of the higher totals were measurements taken in elevated areas, including Malvern's and Valley Forge's.
Since temperatures decrease with height, elevated areas tend to see bigger accumulations when temperatures are near or slightly above freezing. Also elevation shortens the trip to the ground for a snowflake, giving it less opporunity to melt.
In addition to borderline temperatures, the snow was up against the powerful April sun.
As expected, it had a tough time sticking on paved surfaces well-warmed the last several weeks, although a slushy accumulation did form on some roads, leading to skidding accidents.
No more snow is in the forecast, and we're inclined to say, see you in December.