The Farmer’s Almanac announces their winter forecast every August, and the predictions for Philadelphia are officially in. The City of Brotherly Love is in for a wild ride from November through March, and many people aren’t going to be thrilled with what the Farmer’s Almanac says about the 2017-2018 winter in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is a pretty city in the snow, but with so many residents walking and biking on their commute, a sloppy winter can be a huge headache.
It might be a good year to plan a trip up to the Poconos, because we might be in for a lot of snow.
The Farmer's Almanac makes its predictions using a combination of weather modeling, solar studies, natural cues, and astronomy.
While long-range forecasting using the Farmer's Almanac's methods aren't based on model guidance, people have been using it to understand the winter weather for decades. This year, they've pinpointed the dates of January 20-23, February 4-7 & 16-19, and March 1-3 & 20-23 for snowstorms in our area.
Let's start with November...
According to the Almanac, in November we'll see higher precipitation and lower than average temperatures than normal. That combination means we may be in for early snow!
As for December...
December should be warmer than average, but also much wetter. Depending on where temperatures fall, we could be in for freezing rain, snow, sleet, or that sloppy half-snow, half-rain that makes commutes miserable.
January is looking questionable...
January will be similar to December, but even the warmer than average temperatures are more likely to result in snowstorms. Hopefully the city won't become a sheet of ice as the temperatures melt the snow or freeze the rain.
February has us shivering already...
February, known for being a brutal month during winter in Philadelphia, will be colder than normal, but we may get less precipitation. Hopefully this means there won't be any ice storms, like the one that knocked out power across the city on Valentine's Day weekend in 2014.
... but March might not be so bad after all!
March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb... but it might be all lamb in 2018. Temperatures are predicted to be much warmer than average, with precipitation only slightly higher than average.
Whether it snows an inch or three feet, remember that the Philadelphia Police Department takes their "No Savesies" campaign VERY seriously.
Who can forget the PPD Hotline Bling Parking Cone PSA? When it snows, resist the temptation to save your shoveled out parking spot with cones, chairs, toilets, or anything else - the only way we'll make it through this snowy, wild winter in Philadelphia is if we shovel and share.
Even when Philly gets colder, the city doesn't slow down. The RiverRink at Penn's Landing will be back this year, featuring an ice rink for skating, their popular heated arcade, fireplaces, food, and their drink tent. It's also a great time to head inside and check out some of the best free attractions in Philadelphia - from the art museums to the historic landmarks. And of course, great skiing is only a short drive away in the Poconos!
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