The National Weather Service has now upgraded a Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning in anticipation of heavy snow in the State College area and across the East Coast — with millions of people traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Accuweather senior meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski says that a winter storm in late November isn’t that uncommon. The real problem is the timing.
“This couldn’t be worse for travellers on one the busiest days of the year,” Pydynowski says. “This is a very impactful storm that’s already spreading rain across the Southeast.”
Pydynowski says the storm will move from the Southeast up across most of the East Coast, bringing snow to everywhere from central Pennsylvania to New England.
Snow will begin falling early Wednesday morning, likely before dawn, and will continue through afternoon and early evening, Pydynowski says. State College and the surrounding area will see the milder side of the storm, with two to four inches of snow expected here.
Anyone traveling north or east will encounter the heart of the storm, where snowfall is expected to reach six to twelve inches. Those traveling west will be in slightly better shape, as Pydynowski expects the snow to stay east of Ohio.
“If you can, wait until Thanksgiving morning to head to your destination,” Pydynowski says. “If you have to travel on Wednesday, go slow and leave plenty of extra space between you and the other travelers.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is preparing for the snow with extra snowplowing shifts and 24-hour coverage, according to a PennDOT news release.
PennDOT will focus its efforts on interstates and other heavily trafficked roadways. Travelers should plan their route accordingly.
PennDOT also recommends travelers have an emergency supply kit in their car. This kit should include non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, blankets and a snow shovel.
Pydynowski says some of the snow should begin to melt on Thanskgiving, “when temperatures creep above freezing.” Temperatures will hover in the low to mid 30s throughout the rest of the week.
Any snow that’s melted on Thursday may refreeze during the night, so Pydynowski urges Black Friday shoppers to watch for black ice in the morning.
“Things will stay pretty cold through Saturday,” Pydynowski says. “But on Sunday, temperatures should rebound into the lower 50s.”
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