Major Pennsylvania Weather Changes Coming This Week

Pennsylvania and the Northeast, like much of the United States, has been experiencing warmer than normal temperatures as of late. But, according to AccuWeather meteorologists, there's a storm brewing that could dump snow onto part of Pennsylvania. It could happen right around Valentine's Day, too. How romantic, right? I'm not a fan of snow, so a Valentine's Day snowstorm sounds really bad to me. Regardless, some major Pennsylvania weather changes are coming this week, so let's get into the latest forecast.

AccuWeather says to expect some drastic changes in temperatures over the next few days. They've been forecasting the weather pattern to change from warm in January and early February to cold and stormy for the second half of February in the East. Now, those predictions seem to be coming true. This week, we're expected to see big changes.

"The change will be stark, as we will go from temperatures ending this week and into the weekend in places like New York City and Philadelphia in the upper 50s to near 60 degrees down into the mid-40s on Monday followed by temperatures mainly in the 30s on Tuesday," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a press release. "As this colder air moves in the storm will be approaching from the southwest, leading to travel disrupting snow for some."

According to AccuWeather, for those in the Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic, central Appalachians and southern New England, precipitation during the first part of the storm will be rain or a mix. That's from Sunday into Monday. Then, expect sleet from Monday to Monday night. For the second part of the storm, starting as early as Monday night, expect a transition to snow. That show could even be heavy at times in New England, the central Appalachians and the upper mid-Atlantic.

As for Philly, AccuWeather says that, "around Philadelphia on Tuesday, snow may struggle to accumulate much in the heart of the city, with a better chance of up to a few inches over the northern and western suburbs.." Moreover, "Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, are unlikely to receive any meaningful accumulation from the storm. Meanwhile, Boston and Hartford, Connecticut, can expect enough snow to shovel and plow with slushy and slippery travel." They also say to expect airline delays and flight cancelations due to snow in Boston, New York City and Philadelphia. They add, "If the storm intensifies rapidly near the Northeast coast, rain may transition to heavy, accumulating snow in the zone from New York City to Philadelphia and perhaps Washington, D.C." So, stay safe during these major Pennsylvania weather changes. Spring isn't here quite yet.

Nobody likes dealing with severe weather. But, it's part of life. Depending on where you live in the United States, you might come up against hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, blizzards and more. I've certainly had my fair share of severe weather events. Probably my most vivid memory was being in an ice storm, which knocked power out for about a week where I lived, including during Christmas. It was freezing cold, so my family and I had to go to a hotel that was out of town. Needless to say, our Christmas plans were totally different that year. So, what are some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life?

Before we get to the main tips, let's get through some basics. Stay informed when a severe weather event is approaching. It's simple but important. You don't want to be caught off guard when bad weather strikes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service both have information that they provide leading up to and during a severe weather event. So, make sure to get the latest information in the case of any weather emergency. Local meteorologists also have good information, but the main alerts come from the National Weather Service.

Another mistake some people make is not taking "watches" seriously. For example, you might see that there's a severe thunderstorm watch in your area and think, oh, it's just a watch, I can go out for a walk. Don't do it. "A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain," the National Weather Service explains. We'll get more into the specifics of a watch, warning and advisory later in this story.

Let's get into some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life.

A weather advisory, watch and warning all need to be taken seriously. So, what do they mean? According to the National Weather Service, "a warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely." A watch is where "the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain." Finally, an advisory means, "hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely."

During a severe thunderstorm, and any severe weather event, the best thing to do is stay inside and sheltered. "The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes," the National Weather Service says. Also, you don't want to risk getting hit by lightning, like in the image below.

During a tornado, get underground if possible. If you don't have a basement, get to the lowest floor possible. Also, during a tornado, watch for flying and falling debris. The National Weather Service advises to "use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc. to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris."

Be prepared. Have a good emergency kit, both in your house and your car. For the car, "An emergency kit should include booster cables, shovel, tow rope, sand or cat litter, and a flashlight with extra batteries," the National Weather Service says. "Do not forget a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and blankets or sleeping bags."

This one my mom and dad always tell me to do. And, they're right. "Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel line," the National Weather Service advises.

Heat can make for a severe weather event, too. So, dress appropriately when it gets really hot. "Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures," the National Weather Service says. They add to guzzle lots of "water or non-alcoholic fluids."

Sometimes, you just have to leave ahead of the storm to be safe. In the case of a hurricane, the National Weather Service says to "leave immediately if ordered." They also say that if you are allowed to stay, to "take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can," and "stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors."

Weather isn't just about thunderstorms and tornados. Air quality is a big part of weather events these days, too. Be on the lookout for air quality alerts in your area. If you have respiratory issues, you should wear a mask when out and about in bad air quality. You should also say inside if the air quality is especially bad.

Even on a perfect weather day, if you're at the beach, there are risks. The NOAA states, "To stay safe, you need to stay aware of the weather, the ocean, tide, and what is going on around you." They add, "Storms, such as thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes far out at sea can create dangerous waves and currents at the beach, even on a sunny day!"