A significant winter storm is taking aim at the Philadelphia region this weekend, and while the exact totals are still uncertain, meteorologists warn that parts of the area could see substantial snowfall from Sunday into Monday. According to 6ABC, light precipitation is expected to start Sunday morning, with early rainfall gradually shifting to snow as colder air moves in later in the afternoon.
At first, temperatures will hover around 39 degrees, warm enough to hold totals down and keep some areas mixing with rain. But after roughly 4 p.m., colder air is expected to sweep across the region, allowing the storm to transition fully to snow. By 10 p.m. Sunday, snowfall should be widespread across most of the area, continuing into early Monday before tapering off. Drivers are urged to avoid the roads late Sunday through Monday morning, with slippery conditions expected across the region.
Winter Storm Watches are now in effect for much of the region for Sunday into Monday, with the bulk of the storm occurring Sunday night into early Monday. Widespread snowfall of 5 or more inches is possible. More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/6SNkAyS0xK
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 20, 2026
Forecast models, however, still don’t agree on the storm’s intensity. Most—including the European model—show the system tracking farther south, limiting impacts for Philly and leading to 2 to 4 inches of snow in the city and Lehigh Valley, and 3 to 8 inches closer to the coast. But the American GFS model paints a very different picture, projecting a track closer to the coast that could push totals into the double digits, potentially exceeding a foot of snow in parts of the region. While this heavier outcome is considered less likely at the moment, it remains within the realm of possibility.
With models split and temperatures in a delicate balance, the storm’s final impact will come down to its exact track and timing. As always with winter systems along the East Coast, a small shift could dramatically change what we see on the ground.