Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey Weather Bringing a Rude Awakening

Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey enjoyed a very mild Christmas, so if you're someone who doesn't like the brutally cold temperatures, then you probably loved the warm weather over the holidays. But, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey is gearing up for some severe winter weather. Just a few days ago, it almost felt like spring in some areas, with light rain and dew taking the place of snow and ice. One good thing about the mild weather is that the roads were good for most of the holiday, so if you had to travel, for most of the area, you didn't have to fend with ice and snow. But, now, there's a change for the next two weeks, and here's what you can expect.

Thirteen states are in the path of what looks to be a dangerous winter storm arriving this week. The winter storm is expected to bring snow and ice from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic later this week. We're talking "heavy snow and significant icing."

The National Weather Service Prediction Center sent out a post on X on Thursday, January 2, showing a map of the impacted areas of the country. The storm is a bit more south than many winter storms, but even the areas that don't get snow or ice are expected to get very cold temperatures.

According to the NWS, the most likely impacted areas include parts of Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland and Kansas. Other areas of the country with a good chance of impacts include parts of New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Iowa, West Virginia and Kentucky.

As for Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, as mentioned above, parts of Delaware and New Jersey could get some impact from the general winter storm going across the U.S., but most of the areas hardest hit will be south of these states. While some snow is in the forecast for Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey for the next week, the real news is the brutally cold temperatures. All three states are projected to get down to the teens by next week, and those cold temperatures are expected to last through at least mid-January, according to the Weather Channel. Those teens are on the forecast through at least the middle of January, so get your earmuffs on. I'm not a fan of the cold weather or now, so bring on spring, please. Contact me with your winter weather stories.

Nobody likes dealing with severe weather. But, it's part of life. Depending on where you live in the United States, you might come up against hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, blizzards and more. I've certainly had my fair share of severe weather events. Probably my most vivid memory was being in an ice storm, which knocked power out for about a week where I lived, including during Christmas. It was freezing cold, so my family and I had to go to a hotel that was out of town. Needless to say, our Christmas plans were totally different that year. So, what are some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life?

Before we get to the main tips, let's get through some basics. Stay informed when a severe weather event is approaching. It's simple but important. You don't want to be caught off guard when bad weather strikes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service both have information that they provide leading up to and during a severe weather event. So, make sure to get the latest information in the case of any weather emergency. Local meteorologists also have good information, but the main alerts come from the National Weather Service.

Another mistake some people make is not taking "watches" seriously. For example, you might see that there's a severe thunderstorm watch in your area and think, oh, it's just a watch, I can go out for a walk. Don't do it. "A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain," the National Weather Service explains. We'll get more into the specifics of a watch, warning and advisory later in this story.

Let's get into some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life.

A weather advisory, watch and warning all need to be taken seriously. So, what do they mean? According to the National Weather Service, "a warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely." A watch is where "the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain." Finally, an advisory means, "hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely."

During a severe thunderstorm, and any severe weather event, the best thing to do is stay inside and sheltered. "The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes," the National Weather Service says. Also, you don't want to risk getting hit by lightning, like in the image below.

During a tornado, get underground if possible. If you don't have a basement, get to the lowest floor possible. Also, during a tornado, watch for flying and falling debris. The National Weather Service advises to "use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc. to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris."

Be prepared. Have a good emergency kit, both in your house and your car. For the car, "An emergency kit should include booster cables, shovel, tow rope, sand or cat litter, and a flashlight with extra batteries," the National Weather Service says. "Do not forget a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and blankets or sleeping bags."

This one my mom and dad always tell me to do. And, they're right. "Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel line," the National Weather Service advises.

Heat can make for a severe weather event, too. So, dress appropriately when it gets really hot. "Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures," the National Weather Service says. They add to guzzle lots of "water or non-alcoholic fluids."

Sometimes, you just have to leave ahead of the storm to be safe. In the case of a hurricane, the National Weather Service says to "leave immediately if ordered." They also say that if you are allowed to stay, to "take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can," and "stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors."

Weather isn't just about thunderstorms and tornados. Air quality is a big part of weather events these days, too. Be on the lookout for air quality alerts in your area. If you have respiratory issues, you should wear a mask when out and about in bad air quality. You should also say inside if the air quality is especially bad.

Even on a perfect weather day, if you're at the beach, there are risks. The NOAA states, "To stay safe, you need to stay aware of the weather, the ocean, tide, and what is going on around you." They add, "Storms, such as thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes far out at sea can create dangerous waves and currents at the beach, even on a sunny day!"