Philadelphia Weather Alert Today: Hour-by-Hour Storm Forecast, Flood Risk, and Safety Tips

Philadelphians are bracing for a potentially historic winter blast as a powerful coastal system tracks up the Eastern Seaboard today, promising drenching rain this morning that will flip to heavy, wind-whipped snow by late afternoon. The National Weather Service has hoisted a Blizzard Warning for the city and nearby suburbs from 4 p.m. Sunday through noon Monday, warning of white-out conditions, wind gusts over 40 mph, and snowfall rates topping two inches per hour at the storm’s peak. Key forecast highlights: • Timing – Rain becomes a wintry mix after 2 p.m., changing to all snow before the evening commute. The heaviest snow is expected 7 p.m.–3 a.m., then tapers to flurries by daybreak Monday. • Totals – Forecasters now project 8–14 inches inside the I-95 corridor, with localized 16-inch bullseyes possible in Northwest Philadelphia and the northern suburbs. • Wind & visibility – Northeast winds strengthen to 25–35 mph with 45 mph gusts, producing near-zero visibility and dangerous wind chills in the teens. • Coastal impacts – A concurrent Coastal Flood Warning targets the Delaware Riverfront during tonight’s high tide; minor property flooding and roadway closures are likely from Penn’s Landing south to Chester. Travel headaches are inevitable. PennDOT plans rolling plow operations and a 45 mph speed restriction on area interstates once the snow begins to stick. Philadelphia International Airport advises passengers to check flight status frequently, as widespread delays and cancellations are anticipated after 6 p.m. SEPTA will run subways on a snow timetable; trolley and Regional Rail service may be curtailed if drifts build on above-ground tracks. Residents should finish storm prep this morning: clear storm drains, charge devices, stock up on shelf-stable food, and park vehicles off-street where possible. If you must venture out tonight, pack blankets, a flashlight, and a full tank of gas. Remember that just a quarter-mile visibility and rapidly icing roads can turn routine drives treacherous. Looking ahead, clearing skies late Monday will reveal frigid air—daytime highs only near 35 °F—before a gradual thaw midweek sends temperatures toward the upper 40s by Thursday. But for now, all eyes are on the clock: the window to hunker down is closing fast as Philadelphia’s biggest snowstorm in years bears down on the region.