At 9:14 p.m. on Saturday, the National Weather Service released an updated winter weather advisory for Crawford County, Northern Erie, and Southern Erie that would be in effect from 4 a.m. until noon on Sunday.
“Freezing rain is predicted. A light coating is surrounded by total ice buildup. The weather service reports gusts of up to 35 mph. “On Sunday morning before dawn, a band of precipitation will move in from the southwest, bringing with it a brief period of snow that will eventually turn to rain. Before this precipitation, cold air and subfreezing surface temperatures will gradually move out of Northwest Pennsylvania. Rain may thus freeze to surfaces for an hour or two on Sunday morning, including local roads, bridges, sidewalks, and driveways, once snow turns to rain in the area. Conditions are likely to be slippery. The freezing rain and ice risks will gradually end when temperatures rise above freezing late Sunday morning.
“Roads will probably get slippery and dangerous, especially bridges and overpasses. The weather service warns of extremely slick roadways, walkways, and bridges. “When traveling, slow down and exercise caution. Be ready for any power disruptions. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation strongly advise drivers to observe all traffic laws and postpone needless travel. Be ready for roads that are slick. When driving, reduce your speed and exercise caution. Watch your initial few steps on driveways, sidewalks, and stairs if you’re going outside. You run a higher risk of falling and getting hurt since these surfaces could be icy and slick.
Driving through winter: Expert tips from the weather service for a safe journey
Roads are frequently made dangerous by winter’s icy grip, which results in more than 480,000 injuries and over 6,000 weather-related vehicle fatalities annually. Safety should be your first concern when you’re on roads that are covered in snow or freezing rain. Go more slowly and be careful. It’s wise to anticipate icy patches on the road and modify your driving in response when the temperature is close to freezing. Keep an eye out for ice buildup on tree limbs and power lines, since they could shatter and fall. Steer clear of driving in these situations at all costs. However, if you must go outside, avoid touching downed power lines and take paths with fewer trees. If you come across one, call 911 right away. The weather service has provided the following extra winter driving advice:
Tell us about your travel itinerary:
Make sure to let relatives or friends know where you’re going, how you plan to get there, and when you expect to arrive when you’re leaving town in dangerous winter conditions.
Get your car ready:
A windshield scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, flashlight, mobile phone, blanket, extra warm clothes, drinking water, and high-calorie non-perishable food are all necessary wintertime items for your car. Make sure your petrol tank is full.
Remain composed when stranded:
Stay calm if you end up trapped. Tell someone where you are and what’s going on. Avoid trying to get to safety by foot. Put a cloth to your car’s antenna or mirror to show that you need help, and use the dome light and flashers to increase your vehicle’s visibility.
Watch out for snow plows:
Watch for snow plows and give them plenty of space to go by. You should only pass a plow when you can see the road well ahead.
Examine the state of the roads:
To make well-informed travel selections, check the most recent road conditions before setting out on your trip.
Use these helpful winter driving advice from the weather service to stay safe on wintry roads and lower your chance of getting into an accident during inclement weather.
United Robots offers a service called Advance Local Weather Alerts that gathers the most recent information from the National Weather Service using machine learning.
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