It’s back. Below-normal temperatures with single-digit lows are forecast for southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Philly region after a brief flirtation with the freezing point. The lows will not get close to the February record for Pennsylvania, which was recorded Feb. 11, 1899, in Tioga County. A temperature of minus 39 degrees was logged in Lawrenceville, according to The Pennsylvania State Climatologist. The National Weather Service predicts highs of 29 to 30 degrees Thursday for the region with lows dipping to 5 to 11 degrees by Friday morning. “Relatively tranquil, if cold, conditions will prevail through Friday morning, with relatively light winds and a mix of clouds and clear skies as weak high pressure dominates,” the weather forecaster discussion from the Mount Holly, N.J. office stated Wednesday night. “This all changes Friday afternoon and evening as a clipper system passes by to the north.” The amount of snow coming Friday is still not locked in, but a coating to upwards of an inch is expected for the region. “Things get much more interesting late at night, as an arctic cold front barrels southeastward across the region,” the forecast said. “Right now, guidance has honed in on a timing late Friday night, after midnight but before dawn. With the front itself, scattered snow showers, perhaps even some heavier snow squalls, are possible.” The actual snowfall with the squalls is expected to be very light, the NWS said, less than an inch, but the potential exists for some rapid drops in visibility and roads quickly becoming icy. “Strong wind gusts behind the arctic front may exceed 50 mph across much of the area on Saturday, with air temperatures plunging into the single digits or below zero and wind chills diving possibly to -10 to -20 degrees by late Saturday night,” the forecast stated. Single-digit lows return to the region this weekend according to the National Weather Service forecast. (Courtesy of the National Weather Service) National Weather Service forecast Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 29. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Calm wind. Friday: Light snow likely, mainly after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Friday night: Light snow likely before midnight, then a chance of snow showers, mainly between midnight and 4 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 14. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers before 10 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 18. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 3. Blustery. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 20. Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. A warming trend is expected for the workweek, with the mercury getting back above freezing for most places in the region on Tuesday. ...read more read less