Winter storm slams Philadelphia region with heavy snowfall

A weekend storm threat is looming for parts of the Philadelphia region.

A large portion of the Philadelphia region could see between 8 to 12 inches of snow, according to the latest models.

HOW MUCH SNOW?

The storm is expected to bring between 8 and 12 inches of snow to parts of South Jersey and Delaware, with a band of 12+ inches along some shore points. The Philadelphia metro area could see anywhere from 8 to 12 inches, and areas west will see less accumulation.

TIMELINE

As temperatures drop, precipitation will changeover to snow for all areas by Sunday evening.

Light precipitation is expected to begin Sunday morning. Areas northwest of Philadelphia will likely begin with light snow showers. With ground temperatures above freezing and temperatures in the mid 30s, snow will likely initially melt as it hits the ground.

A mix of rain and snow is expected around Philadelphia, with rain showers for areas south and east.

The high temperature on Sunday is forecast to reach about 39 degrees, but temperatures are expected to fall late in the day. As temperatures drop later in the evening, any rain or mixed precipitation will change to snow for all. The timing of the heaviest snow overnight leads to ideal conditions for accumulations.

Drivers are urged to use caution and consider staying off the roads from Sunday evening through Monday morning as snow continues and snowfall rates pick up.

By Monday morning, snow will begin tapering off west to east as the coastal storm continues to strengthen and move away from the coast.

KEY IMPACTS

Possible blizzard conditions with thundersnow in southeastern NJ and southern Delaware, thanks to very strong lift developing in the atmosphere.

Wind gusts along the coast will likely reach 50 mph.

Coastal flooding and beach erosion are likely.

Stay with Action News and AccuWeather as the storm moves closer to the region.

The weekend storm could bring possible blizzard conditions to areas along the Jersey shore.

So what exactly is a blizzard?

A blizzard means three or more hours of winds gusting to 35 miles an hour or greater, falling or blowing snow, and visibility less than a 1/4 of a mile.

There are no requirements for the amount of snow when it comes to a blizzard.

No Blizzard Watches or Warnings have been posted, but they can't be ruled out.

Residents across South Jersey are preparing for another round of snow, but some are finding it harder to get the supplies they need after stores ran low during recent storms.

Hardware stores that typically keep rock salt and ice melt in stock are now facing shortages, leaving customers hoping to secure what remains before the next storm arrives.

Eric Davies, of Cherry Hill, was among those trying to prepare ahead of the weekend.

"Very sick of it, ready for spring, that first nice day of being able to open the windows and get some fresh air in the house," said Davies.

Whether frustrated or determined, many residents say they are bracing for the possibility of several inches of snow.

Preps underway for weekend snowstorm

After seeing the forecast, Deanna Francesconi went to Westmont Ace Hardware in Haddon Township to make sure she was prepared.

"I said to him , 'We're gonna go today because the closer it gets to Sunday, the more they won't have any more salt,'" she said.

Westmont Ace Hardware owner Bill Getzinger said demand has surged as customers try to avoid being caught off guard.

"People are starting to panic a little bit. The people that got shut out during the last storm, making sure they have their shovel, they have their salt, and are ready to go."

Despite having one pallet of ice melt left, Getzinger said supplies are dwindling quickly. By Friday night, they were completely sold out.

Meanwhile, Cartun Hardware in Camden has already run out of salt entirely.

Owner David Garrison said supply chain issues have made it difficult to restock.

He said his supplier has struggled to meet demand after an unusually harsh winter.

"Early January, we got notice that 22 of the 25 different brands of salt were out for the season. Right now, there's no calcium, no blends, no pet safe available from the suppliers," he said

He said the shortage has left customers frustrated and forced some to look for alternatives.

"Everyone's coming in saying, ' Can I have salt, can I get salt?'" said Garrison.

Garrison said his store has sold far more salt this year than in previous winters.

"This year we've gone through about 19 tons of rock salt. Last year we went through about 6 tons, and the year prior to that we sold two bags," Garrison said

He added that even shipments expected last week failed to arrive.

"We have four skids on order, but they're scheduled for delivery last week," he added. "Did not come in."

The demand has also led customers to purchase different tools to deal with the ice.

"We've sold out of our entire spring order of garden shovels in order to get through the ice and bricks that are out there," said Garrison.

While the approaching storm has been difficult to forecast, we now have a better idea where things stand.

Adam Joseph has the latest