The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter weather advisory for dozens of Pennsylvania counties this week, predicting snow and widespread freezing rain this weekend.
The counties of Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, Adams, York, Lancaster, Perry, Franklin, Mifflin, and Juniata are all under the winter weather advisory, which is in force from 10 p.m. on Wednesday until noon on Thursday.
The NWS predicts that by 7 a.m. Thursday, most of central Pennsylvania will have received less than an inch of snow. On the other hand, freezing rain is predicted to fall on the area Wednesday night and Thursday.
Temperatures in the low 30s should bring snow on Wednesday, and by Wednesday evening, a wintry combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is expected to spread across the area. According to the NWS, the freezing rain should stop by Thursday afternoon when the temperature rises into the 40s.
According to forecasters, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Lancaster, and the surrounding areas will receive less than an inch of snow, but up to a quarter of an inch of ice.
According to current weather projections, Gettysburg will have between a tenth of an inch and a quarter of an inch of ice, while Harrisburg and Lancaster will see between a hundredth and a tenth of an inch.
WINTER STORM DETAILS: A narrow band of 1-3″ of snow may form across south central Pennsylvania.WED NIGHT: The area is covered with a wintry combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.THU: Freezing As the temperature rises into the 40s, the rain stops.ioWpRxLXUB https://t.co/mLqvlCztTI#PAwxpic.twitter.com
The weather alert also covers the counties of Warren, McKean, Potter, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Centre, Huntingdon, Tioga, Lycoming, Sullivan, Lycoming, Union, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, and Schuylkill.
According to the NWS, there should be minor effects throughout much of Pennsylvania, including the south central region, which might lead to hazardous driving conditions and a few disruptions to everyday life.
Forecasters expect that a region of western Pennsylvania municipalities, including Somerset, Johnstown, and the surrounding areas, will experience the highest amounts of ice and freezing rain. By Thursday morning, there should be up to a half-inch of ice and one to two inches of snow in those locations.
The winter weather will have a moderate impact on the Somerset area, potentially causing infrastructure closures or interruptions and potentially dangerous driving conditions. The state’s major and extreme effect categories did not include any regions.
According to the NWS, Erie and the surrounding towns in northwest Pennsylvania are expected to experience up to a quarter-inch of ice but no snow.
Additionally, PennDOT advises avoiding needless travel and has imposed a number of restrictions throughout the state in anticipation of the winter weather.
At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the following Tier 2 vehicle limits will take effect:
Additional Tier 2 restrictions will be implemented on the following roads at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday:
The following automobiles are not allowed on the impacted roads due to Tier 2 restrictions:
At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Tier 4 restrictions will also be implemented on the following roads:
Additional Tier 4 restrictions are planned for Wednesday at 10 p.m.:
Finally, these roads will be subject to Tier 4 limitations starting at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday:
Commercial vehicles are not allowed on roads with Tier 4 restrictions. Moreover, while limitations are in effect, no commercial buses, school buses, motor coaches, motorcyclists, RVs, motorhomes, or passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) are allowed to tow trailers on the impacted roads.
According to preliminary data from Pennsylvania’s last winter, 151 crashes that resulted in three fatalities and fifty-five injuries happened in icy, slushy, or snowy conditions. According to PennDOT, aggressive driving practices like speeding and reckless lane changes contributed to a large number of those collisions.
See PennLive’s comprehensive article on PennDOT restrictions across the state for additional advice on how to be safe on Pennsylvania roads in the winter.
This is a statewide weather radar in real time:
