Snow shovels ready?

An inch or more of snow is likely by Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

"The only question now is how much" will fall in the city and its surrounding counties, said Greg Heavener with the service's Mount Holly office.

First, rain is expected tomorrow, followed by a mix of rain and snow in the afternoon.

"Once the sun goes down, we should be seeing snow for eight, nine hours," he said.

How much will stick is unclear, as temperatures flirt with the freezing mark.

"It might double, be like 2 to 3 inches, by Sunday morning," he said.

Don't start thinking of snowmen, though.

"It might be a little too slushy for that kind of stuff," he said.

As is often the case, areas west and north of the city could see the most snow, the Jersey Shore the least.

Dec. 5 has had significant snow four of the last seven years - 2007, 2005, 2003 and 2002 - but coincidence is likely the best explanation, Heavener said.

As for further worries about flurries, a storm could develop for Tuesday night, but today that one seems likely to bring just rain, he said.

For more on the forecast, go to http://go.philly.com/weather.