2014: A polar punch, and snow to boot?

Forecasting challenges lay ahead as we ride into the first week of the New Year.

2013 will go out wet and on the mild side. Temperatures will inch toward 50 on Saturday with plenty of sunshine.

On Eagle Sunday, a storm system loaded with moisture will move up the coast. Since the Arctic retreat will continue through the weekend it will be all liquid with 1-2 inches common across the region with localized street flooding. Temperatures will hover in the 40s.

The bulk of the rain will fall Sunday afternoon through early evening, but should be moving out as the Eagles kick off in Dallas.

Monday the 30th looks nice and dry with temperatures in the low 40s.

On New Year's Eve, an Arctic front will arrive, sending temperatures tumbling. Daytime temps will remain locked in the 30s.

Celebration Night will be windy and very cold, with a few flurries as temperatures drop into the low 20s.

On Jan. 1, 2014, the Mummers will need to strut quickly. Temperatures will struggle to reach 30 and I'm still watching the possibility of some light snow streaking in during the afternoon.

On the 2nd and 3rd, we will see some of the coldest temperatures to strike the Northeast in years. Temperatures here in Philly will not leave the mid 20s come Jan. 3, and wind chill factors will drop below zero in many locations.

A Code Blue Alert for the homeless should be activated by Jan. 2.

The big question at this time: will a storm that should start to develop in the Gulf of Mexico make a run toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast with snow, or will it get suppressed to the south and move well out to sea.

Too early to call, so I'll leave it as a low-level alert status (meaning probability at this time is less than 50 percent). If it does come to fruition, we'd probably be looking at arrival around Jan 2-3.

Keep you posted,

John Bolaris