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Snowy start for New Year’s Eve

Snow fell this morning across the region as a winter storm moved north through the Philadelphia area.

An umbrella comes in handy for this woman in Germantown.  (Ron Tarver
/ Staff Photographer)
An umbrella comes in handy for this woman in Germantown. (Ron Tarver / Staff Photographer)Read more

Snow fell this morning across the region as a winter storm moved north through the Philadelphia area.

About an inch and a half coated the ground in Downingtown, Chester County, and Lindenwold, Camden County, while some parts of Pennsylvania received a slightly thicker blanket of the crystal flakes. Northampton County, for instance, measured 2.3 inches of snow by 9 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

"It looks like the bulk of the precipitation has moved out of the area," meteorologist Valerie Meola said just before 10 a.m. "There's still some falling in part of New Jersey, but it's mainly light stuff. It shouldn't accumulate much."

Untreated roadways created slippery conditions for motorists at the start of the morning rush hour and a number of accidents were reported throughout the area.

Even on treated roadways, there were accidents, including two a short time apart on the Platt Bridge in South Philadelphia, and on Roosevelt Boulevard at Cottman Avenue.

Jenny Robinson, a PennDOT spokeswoman, said road crews started spraying a brine solution on highways to prevent freezing yesterday and worked through the morning.

But she said treating roadways won't prevent accidents.

"Some of this is up to the motorists," Robinson said. "They have to slow down. It's up to the motorist to use caution when it snows."

"Our main problems were between 6 and 7 a.m.," Robinson said, adding that lower traffice volume for New Year's Eve made it easier than a regular workday.

Temperatures today are expected to hover around freezing. There may be some melting that could refreeze as merrymakers usher in the New Year tonight.

The good news is that rain - originally forecast for this evening - is largely out of the picture. The early afternoon may see intermittent sleet and snow.

Revelers still might consider toting umbrellas tonight if they plan to ring in the New Year at the 6 p.m. and midnight fireworks displays on the Delaware River waterfront.

If there is any precipitation tonight it will be light and misty, Meola said.

Flurries may return early New Year's Day, but it should end by the time the Mummers begin their strut up Broad Street.

Still, there is a slight chance of some sporadic sleet or rain in the afternoon. Temperatures in the lower 40s with northwest winds of 5 to 10 m.p.h. should make conditions bearable for the Mummers and spectators for much of the day, although winds could pick up as the sun sets, bringing gusts of up to 25 m.p.h.

Lows could reach the mid-20s tomorrow night, Meola said.

On Saturday and Sunday, temps will rise into the mid-30s in Center City. Lows could drop into the teens both nights, Meola said. The cold trend will most likely continue into the early part of the week.