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From Staff Reports
LEWISTOWN -- A winter storm watch has been issued for a portion of central Pennsylvania between today and Sunday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in State College, about 4-6 inches of snow is expected to fall in the Juniata River Valley.
Sporadic power outages due to heavy/wet snow could occur caused by downed tree limbs and power lines, according to Phil Lucas, Mifflin County's director of Public Safety.
Weather conditions are expected to cause hazardous winter driving conditions, travel disruptions, increased risk for crashes, closures and disruptions to infrastructure.
Snowfall rates of an inch per hour are likely.
The highest precipitation totals are expected in the interior of Central Pennsylvania, between I-99/U.S.-220 and I-78.
The National Weather Service predicts that another impactful winter storm is likely Tuesday and Wednesday, which has the potential to bring mixed precipitation, gusty winds and flooding.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm. Additionally, the agencies will implement various speed and vehicle restrictions throughout the storm.
Crews are actively pre-treating roadways where necessary ahead of the storm to help prevent ice from forming a bond with the pavement during the early stages of a storm. However, salt does not resolve all risks, and drivers may encounter icy spots on the roadway. With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form.
When winter weather occurs, drivers should be extra cautious around operating snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should:
•Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck and remember that the main plow is wider than the truck.
•Be alert since plow trucks generally travel much more slowly than other traffic.
•When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, and remember that snow can obscure the actual snow plow width.
•Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a "plow train." The weight of the snow thrown from the plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, creating a hazard for nearby vehicles.
•Never travel next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can't see, and they can occasionally be moved sideways when hitting drifts or heavy snowpacks.
•Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle. Also remember that under Pennsylvania state law, vehicle lights must be on every time a vehicle's wipers are on due to inclement weather.