Coastal Storm

Today thru
Wednesday
Night
Decision Support Briefing #2
As of 6 AM
Tuesday, March 20, 2018

What Has Changed?

 Coastal Flood Watch changed to Coastal Flood Warnings/Advisories.
 Winter Storm warning issued across the region

Weather Forecast Office Presentation Created

Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM
 Main Points
Hazard Impacts
Slippery conditions possible
today with a wintry mix. Very
hazardous driving conditions
Snow expected tomorrow with heavy
snow. Additional power outages
and tree damage is possible
especially tomorrow.
Strong winds, especially
Wednesday morning could
Wind exacerbate any tree and power
issues with the snow. Gusts up to
50 mph will be possible near the
coast.
Minor flooding tonight. Minor to
Coastal Flooding
moderate flooding on WED and
WED night.
Storm force wind gusts of 50
Marine
knots.
Weather Forecast Office
Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly
Location Timing
Some snow/sleet today and
Eastern PA, NJ, DE and
tonight, but worst impacts
northeastern MD.
expected during the day
Wednesday
Eastern PA, NJ, DE and
northeastern MD. The
Through Wednesday.
strongest winds should
be near the coast.
Coastal areas of NJ and
Around high tide tonight,
DE, and areas along Del
Wednesday and
Bay and the far lower
Wednesday night.
Del River.
The coastal waters of
NJ and DE, including Tonight and Wednesday.
lower Delaware Bay.
Presentation Created
NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM
 Summary of the Greatest Impacts
Heavy Snow: Eastern PA / NJ / DE / Northeastern MD

None Limited Elevated Significant Extreme

Gusty Winds: Eastern PA / NJ / DE / Northeastern MD

None Limited Elevated Significant Extreme

Coastal Flooding: NJ and DE

None Limited Elevated Significant Extreme

Marine: Coastal waters of NJ and DE, including Del Bay

None Limited Elevated Significant Extreme

Weather Forecast Office Presentation Created

Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM
 Evolution of precipitation type
 Mix of rain, light snow, sleet is expected today.
There may be localized freezing rain as well
 Should start to see a changeover to all snow
through the overnight hours into Wednesday
morning. A period of freezing rain will be possible
along the I-95 corridor during the evening.
 Snow, heavy at times, is expected through the day
Wednesday. During the day time Wednesday is
when we expect to get the bulk of the snow
accumulations
 Snow should taper off Wednesday night

Weather Forecast Office Presentation Created

Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM
 Snowfall Forecast
Important Notes:

 Most of the snow is expected

during the day Wednesday.
Snow rates of 2 to 3 inches
per hour are possible through
this period.
 The snow will be wet and
heavy, difficult to shovel, and it
will collect on trees and wires.
 Uncertainty remains with
where the heaviest snow
bands will develop on
Wednesday, and thus with the
exact snow amounts.

Weather Forecast Office Presentation Created

Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM
 Probabilistic Snowfall Forecast
Low End Potential High End Potential
9 in 10 (90%) Chance of Higher Snowfall 1 in 10 (10%) Chance of Higher Snowfall
Than Depicted Below Than Depicted Below

Weather Forecast Office Presentation Created

Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM
 Maximum Coastal Flooding (WED & WED night)
 Minor flooding is expected with
tonight’s high tide.
 Moderate flooding is expected
along much of the NJ and DE
Middlesex coast with Wednesday and
Mercer Wednesday night’s high tide.
Bucks Monmouth
 Minor flooding should reach
upper Delaware Bay and the far
lower Delaware River on
Delaware
Ocean Wednesday and Wednesday
Burlington night.
 This graphic shows the
New Castle

Cecil expected degree of flooding on

Salem the oceanfront, bays, and
Atlantic estuaries along the highlighted
Cumberland areas.
Kent

Kent
No Flooding
Caroline

Talbot Spotty Minor Flooding

Sussex Minor Flooding
Moderate Flooding
Major Flooding
Weather Forecast Office Presentation Created
Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM
 Event Summary
 Elevated travel impacts due to a light wintry mix expected today and tonight.
 Heavy snow and significant impacts are expected during the day tomorrow into
tomorrow evening. Snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour and thunder will be
possible on Wednesday.
 This will be a heavy, wet snow which will be difficult to shovel and will stick to
trees and power lines. This, combined with the strong winds could lead to power
outages and tree damage.
 Coastal flooding will be a concern through the next three high tide cycles. Minor
coastal flooding is expected tonight. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is
expected with the high tide cycles Wednesday and Wednesday night.
 Storm force winds and rough seas on the coastal waters of NJ and DE, and on
Delaware Bay from tonight into Wednesday.

Weather Forecast Office Presentation Created

Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM
 Contact and Next Briefing Information

Next Briefing
When: By 5 PM Tuesday

Briefing Webpage:
www.weather.gov/media/phi/current_briefing.pdf

Web: Facebook:
www.weather.gov/phi NWSMountHolly

Phone (public): Twitter:

(609) 261-6600 @NWS_MountHolly

Disclaimer: The information contained within this briefing

is time-sensitive; do not use after 5 PM March 20, 2018.

Weather Forecast Office Presentation Created

Philadelphia/Mount Holly @NWS_MountHolly NWSMountHolly 3/20/2018 5:06 AM