Philly's Slippery Surprise: Snow, Sleet, and Rain Mix-Up

Philadelphia was in for a weather rollercoaster on Friday. After skipping a white Christmas, the city and nearby areas were hit with a mix of snow, sleet, and rain. This wintry mix started in the afternoon and stuck around until Saturday morning, causing messy roads and a headache for cleanup crews. The weather forecast was a bit of everything. Snow came first, then sleet, and finally rain overnight. Temperatures dropped to around 30 degrees, making things even more slippery. Meteorologist Ray Martin from the National Weather Service warned that even though the snowfall wouldn't be heavy, it would still be dangerous. South and east of Philadelphia, the weather was mostly rain. But near the Delaware River, icy conditions were expected. North of I-78, snow was more likely, with some areas in central and northern New Jersey getting five to eight inches. Meanwhile, Philadelphia itself was expected to get just one to three inches, mostly as sleet.Sleet is different from snow. It's more compact, like tiny ice balls, and harder to shovel. Martin compared it to shoveling sand, not exactly a fun task. With slippery roads, drivers were advised to be extra careful and avoid driving until Saturday mid-morning when temperatures were expected to rise above freezing. The weather also caused some travel chaos. PennDot lowered speed limits on major highways, and the city's office of emergency management sent out alerts for drivers to be cautious. In New Jersey, acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency, urging people to stay off the roads unless necessary. At Philadelphia International Airport, many flights were delayed or canceled, adding to the travel troubles. This storm came just as Philadelphia was preparing to remember the massive snowfall of 1996, which dumped 30. 7 inches in just two days. So far this season, the city has already seen more snow than last winter. This year's total stands at 4. 2 inches, compared to just 8. 1 inches for the entire 2024-25 winter.