Philadelphia and the surrounding areas are bracing for the first significant snowfall of the season as a winter storm makes its way towards the region. The storm has arrived earlier than anticipated, with snow expected to start falling between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., according to the latest updates from the NEXT Weather team.

Winter weather advisories and alerts have been issued for parts of the Delaware Valley in preparation for the storm's arrival. The impact of the storm will vary depending on the location, whether it's in the Philadelphia suburbs, Lehigh Valley, or South Jersey and Delaware.

In southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Delaware County, Chester County, Montgomery County, and Bucks County, the storm is expected to begin as wet snow around 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. Snowfall will continue into the afternoon on Saturday before transitioning to rain around 4 p.m. The heaviest rain is anticipated during the evening before tapering off around midnight. Some snow flurries may persist into Sunday morning, but accumulation is not expected to be significant, with only a trace to perhaps two inches of snow.

Moving to Berks County, Lehigh County, Northampton County, and the Poconos in Pennsylvania, snow is forecasted to spread across the region throughout the day. By mid-afternoon, the entire area will likely be covered in snow. Snowfall will continue until approximately 7 p.m., when the transition to rain will begin in Berks County and southern Lehigh County. Areas such as Allentown and Easton could continue to see snowfall as late as 10 or 11 p.m. The Poconos could experience higher snow accumulation with six to twelve inches expected, while the Lehigh Valley may see four to six inches. In Berks County, the snow may accumulate, but rain will likely wash some of it away.

New Castle County, including Wilmington and Middletown, will start with snow, but this will change to rain by Saturday night. Some light flurries may linger in the tip of New Castle County and Wilmington on Sunday morning. Across Delaware, rainfall totals could reach 1-2 inches by the time the storm clears out.

Areas closer to the I-95 corridor, such as Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties, may begin with snow around 11 a.m., but the transition to rain is expected by 3 p.m. Additionally, parts of Atlantic County could experience heavy downpours. The storm is expected to subside in South Jersey and the shore area by 10-11 p.m. On Sunday morning, light snow showers may affect communities near the I-95 corridor between 10 and 11 a.m., though accumulation is unlikely as the snow will quickly be washed away by rain. Rainfall amounts in some parts of South Jersey could reach 1-2 inches.

As the winter storm approaches, meteorologists from CBS NEXT Weather Network are working together to track its impacts throughout the region. Residents are advised to stay updated on the latest weather conditions by downloading the CBS News Philadelphia app or streaming the news on platforms like Pluto TV.

Stay safe and prepared as the storm brings a mix of snow and rain to the Delaware Valley.