Update: The National Weather Service has extended the freezing rain advisory for the State College area until 5 p.m. on Friday. Caution is advised while driving, especially on rural or untreated roads.
Tomorrow’s morning commute could be a little dicey for State College, but it all depends on timing.
Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek says “a wintery mix” of precipitation will roll into State College sometime between late Thursday night and early Friday morning. However, exactly what form that precipitation will take is yet to be seen.
The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Weather Advisory for State College and much of Central Pennsylvania. The advisory will be in effect on Friday from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m.
“It’s going to be cold enough to cause problems through at least eight or nine on Friday morning, but the question is whether there’s any precipitation at that time,” Dombek says.
If the precipitation starts in the early morning when temperatures are still below freezing, it will likely take the form of sleet or freezing rain. Dombek says this could make any rural or untreated roads icy and slippery until temperatures creep above freezing by noon. If the precipitation starts once temperatures have already risen, then State College will see ordinary rain.
“We’ve got this question mark from about four in the morning up until about noon,” Dombek says. “There’s no guarantee things are going to be bad and icy, but there’s also no guarantee that everyone will be able to drive 65 miles per hour on I-99 like nothing is happening.”
Regardless of what happens on Friday, Dombek says to expect “a good soaking” on Saturday with steady rain. He says temperatures will be about 40 degrees on Saturday, so there are no worries about freezing rain or icy roads – but it won’t be the prettiest first Saturday of deer season for all the hunters heading out into the woods.
State College will dry out by Sunday, which Dombek says will be “chilly, but a nice and bright sunny day.” Temperatures will hover around a high of 36 degrees.
Dombek says a storm will hit the east coast on late Monday night into Tuesday morning, but adds that all the rain and snow should stay northeast of State College.
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