Rain and slush today, more snow tomorrow

Icy rain atop Sunday's sneak-attack, record snowfall conspired to turn the Monday morning commute into a slushy, trip to work.

Philadelphia public schools opened on schedule but many schools around the region, including Camden City public schools, chose to start late, reducing the number of vehicles on the roadways during the rush hour.

Still, several accidents were reported, but nowhere near the scale on Sunday.

Service was suspended between Thorndale and Malvern Stations on SEPTA's Regional Rail because of switch problems, but resumed around 9 a.m.

What the FAA call a Traffic Management Program prompted by the storm delayed flights in and out of Philadelphia International Airport. Passengers were advised to check with their airlines or www.phl.org to see how their flights are affected.

In Lower Merion Township, Montgomery Avenue was closed from Bowman Ave to Winding Way due to a downed utility police, according to police.

In Philadelphia, officials said trash and recycling would be collected as scheduled.

Sunday's surprisingly strong snowstorm dumped up to 10 inches of snow on the region and was blamed for at least one death. Officials said a motorist involved in one of a series of accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Downingtown and Morgantown Exits was struck and killed by another vehicle after he got out of his car.

The heaviest snow fell into a relatively narrow band that happened to cream the official measuring station at National Park, N.J., directly across from Philadelphia International Airport.

The official snow total there was 8.6 inches. More than last year's 8.3 inch total for all of last winter, it also marked the fourth-highest amount ever measured prior to Dec. 10.

It was a record for the date, and also was about 8 times more snow than forecast.

"I'm wearing my Groucho Marx glasses," said Tony Gigi, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. "Every day is a learning experience."

The heavy-snow band set up over the immediate Philadelphia area and into South Jersey just before noon, and snowfall rates approached 3 inches an hour.

With cold high pressure to the north holding the band in place, the effect was similar to that of a train of thunderstorms, said Gigi.

Areas to the north received substantially less snow, a reversal of the usual pattern.

The forecast for Monday calls for temperatures above freezing until night and perhaps more light rain.

More snow is expected Tuesday, with forecasters calling for 2 to perhaps 4 inches across the region.