Coming nor’easter has heavy rain, snow

The Philadelphia area is in for several days with rain, starting this afternoon, and, yes, that word snow keeps popping up.

The trends suggest the biggest threat is for periods of of heavy rain from a nor'easter Thursday night into Friday morning, with possible flooding of small streams and the usual low-lying or poorly drained roads.

Highs winds should not be a problem, and rain should be tapering off Friday afternoon, when the Phillies home opener is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. against the Houston Astros.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they were able to play," said meteorologist Lee Robertson of the National Weather Service.

Snow is expected to also be part of the picture Thursday night and Friday morning, especially in areas north and west of Philadelphia and the I-95 corridor.

"Rain and snow likely" for Philadelphia over a few hours before the Friday morning rush, according to the forecast. Then rain likely resumes, washing any dreams of canceled classes down the sewer drains.

In Doylestown, Bucks County, an overnight wintry mix should give way to a period of all snow around daybreak, before rain returns. A similar mixed bag, with more snow in the mix, is expected up into the Allentown area.

Farther north and east, though, a lot more might fall - perhaps 5 to 10 inches from northeastern New Jersey into Connecticut, according to a winter storm watch issued for those areas by the National Weather Service.

South Jersey should see just rain, although the region's greatest chance for strong gusts is at the Shore, closer to the heart of the storm, Robertson said.

Flakes might also be seen tonight in the Philadelphia area, as today's storm tapers off.

The Thursday forecast for the city mentions rain throughout the day, but that could include lengthy breaks between sessions of light rain.

Over the next few days, "it's going to be some in and out periods as several different disturbances move through the area," Robertson explained.

After highs in the 50s over the weekend, rain could return for Sunday night and Monday.

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