Philadelphia Prepares to Brave Winter Storm Riley

A chestnut of an old wives’ saying, March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb might be true in Philadelphia this weekend as the city braces for Winter Storm Riley, one heck of a nor’easter. Actually, we can’t predict yet if the end of the month is actually going to be balmy. So we’re just sticking with lion jokes for now!

Winter Storm Riley will be bringing wind, snow, and possible flooding to Philadelphia this weekend.

First of all, know that Pennsylvania is not expected to get the full brunt of Riley’s wrath. I wouldn’t go making picnic plans, however. The City of Brotherly Love is expected to see between one and three inches of snow between tomorrow and Sunday, along with gusts of frigid wind blowing as fast as 65 miles per hour. Yikes.

Tropical Storm Riley is forecasted to slam into Massachusetts, Connecticut, and upstate New York. Coastal flooding, wind, and heavy snow are all on the menu. This is no joke – the National Weather Service has said that, in coastal areas, damage akin to what happened during Hurricane Sandy could be expected. This will almost certainly be worse than January’s “bomb cyclone,” says the Washington Post. For those who were alive at the time, the storm will also be comparable to the unnamed blizzard of 1978.

Due to the unfortunate timing of the storm with the highest tides of the month, coastal flooding is considered a major threat. From the Washington Post: “Major flooding is all but certain in the Northeast over the next couple of days. Shoreline roads will be flooded — some with more than three feet of water — and largely impassable. Large debris will be washed ashore. Basements will flood, sea walls could be damaged, and beaches will be severely eroded, the National Weather Service predicts. Southern New England will bear the brunt of the coastal flooding, with onshore winds forecast to last through at least Saturday evening.”

In Philly, our biggest concerns are the potential for wind downing power lines. Stay inside and warm this weekend, friends!