Winter Storm Moving towards Clinton County
STATE COLLEGE — The National Weather Service in State College has issued a winter weather advisory in anticipation of sleet and snow moving into Clinton County in the overnight period. The most recent advisory from the NWS:
• … WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST THURSDAY… * RAIN IN THE EVENING BRIEFLY MIXES WITH SLEET BEFORE QUICKLY CHANGING TO SNOW TONIGHT. * HEAVIEST SNOW FROM MIDNIGHT INTO THE PREDAWN HOURS. RATES OF 1 INCH PER HOUR POSSIBLE. * HEAVIEST SNOW ENDS BY DAYBREAK WITH SNOW TAPERING OFF BY MID MORNING. * TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION 2 TO 5 INCHES. * TEMPERATURES FALLING BELOW FREEZING WITH 25 TO 30 MPH WIND GUSTS INTO THE AFTERNOON. * HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ON SNOW COVERED ROADS WITH LOW VISIBILITY. * LONGER COMMUTE TIMES THURSDAY MORNING WITH REDUCED SPEEDS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REMINDS MOTORISTS TO ADJUST SPEEDS BASED ON DRIVING CONDITIONS AND TO TAKE IT SLOW IN ICE AND SNOW.
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The NWS advisory has prompted PennDOT to encourage motorists to exercise caution, per this announcement:
CLEARFIELD – Due to the snow storm that’s expected to move through the region tonight and tomorrow, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is encouraging motorists to use caution while driving during and after the storm.
PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out may encounter the following conditions:
• Speed restriction to 45 mph on sections of Interstate 80 in Clinton and Centre counties;
• Speed restriction to 45 mph on Interstate 99 in Centre County; and
• Right lane only truck restriction on Route 322 (Seven Mountains) in Mifflin County
Although PennDOT crews will be treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.
While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 825 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.
PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.
For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter.
Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL.
