After weeks of frigid temperatures and below-zero wind chills that left snow and ice stubbornly lingering on roads, fields, and frozen lawns, a thaw is finally in sight for much of central Pennsylvania.
The most recent blast of Arctic air that sent wind chills plunging well below zero across the region is expected to ease beginning Monday, bringing a gradual but welcome uptick in temperatures, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service and AccuWeather.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said the bitter cold that gripped much of the Northeast through the weekend will persist through Monday but will be the last major push of cold air for the foreseeable future. As the deep freeze loosens its grip, snow and ice that built up during recent storms should begin to melt slowly, especially as more sunshine and milder daytime highs arrive. However, Sosnowski cautioned that this won’t be an overnight transformation; the thaw will take time and intermittent wintry systems may still pass through the region over the coming week.
“From Feb. 11-18, the Northeast will see more sun and less bitter cold,” he said in a forecast released Sunday evening. “That means a gradual melting of ice and snow across lakes, rivers and frozen lawns along the East Coast.”
For residents of south central Pennsylvania, the relief is already beginning to show. The seven-day forecast from the National Weather Service in State College calls for temperatures in the Harrisburg area to climb from the chilly upper 20s on Monday to highs approaching 40 degrees by Wednesday. That marks a significant change from the sub-zero lows and single-digit highs that dominated the region just days ago.
Despite the milder trend, winter isn’t quite ready to release its hold entirely. The only chance of snow in the forecast for the remainder of this week appears to be late next weekend, with precipitation possible from Saturday night into Sunday. For now, however, forecasters say most of the week will be dry with gradually moderating conditions.
Source: The Weather Channel