Meteorologists this afternoon are saying the unexpectedly slow development of this snowstorm, coupled with relatively mild temperatures at the surface, have kept the region's roads mostly wet today. So far.

For a "classic" nor'easter, they say - the kind that typically produces our heaviest snowfalls, low pressure centers in the upper and lower levels of the atmosphere need to come together. With this storm, the surface low developed off the southeast coast, while the upper-level low lingered out west over the Great Lakes. And they were slower than expected to move toward each other.

The result has been the late arrival of the snow, and less intense snow than might otherwise have developed. That allowed time for the solar radiation, some of which does penetrate the cloud cover, to nudge temperatures to the freezing mark. Coupled with all that salt - our cars are a mess - it has kept the streets and highways mostly clear of accumulating snow.

That may not last. The forecasters say the upper-and lower-level lows are beginning to get in step with each other, and there are some heavy bands of snow still to push through the region. And as temperatures fall this afternoon and through the rush hour, the heavier snowfall could begin to stick, slushing up the roads and making things a bit dicier.

All of which goes to suggest that an early departure from work might help some of us avoid a more difficult commute later. On the other hand, if everybody pulls out early at the same time ...