Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey in for Frigid Temperatures

The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone, and now, it's officially the holiday season, which means that it should seem like winter out there. Looking at the Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey weather forecasts for the next week, it appears the bitter cold will continue and even get colder, so get ready to get chilly. The area's weather follows national trends, which has many areas of the U.S. in for a bitterly cold few days and even weeks. So, put on your warm, cozy clothing and get ready for a cold weather forecast.

Looking at Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, according to the weather experts at Weather.com, all week is expected to see below-normal temperatures throughout much of the area. In Philadelphia, lows will get down into the 20s later in the week, and leading up to the point, lows will be in the 30s, so it's pretty cold all week long. That pattern follows in Delaware and New Jersey, with all of the areas looking at highs around 40 and lows in the 20s and 30s all week. These areas will get some relief this weekend, when temps go up about 10 degrees, which should melt any lingering snow.

Winter doesn't even officially start until later in the month, when Winter Solstice kicks in, but it sure feels like winter in much of the U.S. For example, New York City is having what's likely its coldest start to December since 2019, with highs projected to be in the 30s and 40s from Dec. 1 through 5, according to the experts at AccuWeather.

"Many areas across the northern tier will start the month of December with temperatures well below historical averages," Paul Pastelok, lead long-range expert for AccuWeather, said.

"Freezing temperatures will lunge deep into the Southeast, and the frigid air will be wind-driven and penetrating in the Midwest and Northeast," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski added.

According to AccuWeather, much of the very cold Arctic air will be in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest into early in the week after Thanksgiving, with highs only getting into the single digits, teens and 20s. "Even for this part of the country where bursts of Arctic air can hit frequently, these levels are 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit below historical averages into the beginning of December," their expert note. I don't like cold weather at all, and I'm certainly feeling it where I live. Is it summer yet? Contact me with your 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."