Winter Storm Could Bring Three to Six Inches of Snow

The National Weather Service out of Mount Holly, N.J. has issued a winter storm warning for much of the area, including eastern Montgomery and lower Bucks counties. The warning, which was issued late yesterday afternoon, will be in effect today from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What can we expect? According to the warning, the area will receive heavy snowfall and accumulations of between three to six inches as well as a "trace of ice."

According to the warning, the weather will cause a moderate to severe travel impact during the morning commute, followed by ice roads after the snow. 

Montgomery County has issued a "Code Blue" declaration, which runs through Friday, Dec. 13 at noon. A "Code Blue" is issued in Montgomery County when winter conditions pose a threat of serious harm or death to people without shelter; it is called when the combination of air temperature and wind chill is anticipated to be 20 degrees or less.

What is a "warning?" According to the National Weather Service website, "a warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property." 

This differs from a "watch," which is used when the risk of an event is increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain.