The National Weather Service at State College has issued a winter storm warning from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday in Centre County as central Pennsylvania sees its first significant snowfall of the season.
About 4 to 8 inches of snow is expected before the storm moves out on Sunday morning. Snowfall rates should be heaviest between noon and 7 p.m., according to the NWS.
Regionally, the worst travel conditions are expected along the Interstate 80 and Interstate 81 corridors. Mixed precipitation likely will reduce snowfall accumulation in areas southeast of I-81 and I-78.
“In general, no matter where you are Saturday afternoon, traveling into State College is not going to be good,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines told StateCollege.com. “Sunday’s a better day.”
Only 0.7 inches of snow has been recorded so far this winter in State College, according to the NWS.
Here’s a look at the effects the anticipated storm is having and information to know around Centre County. Have a snow-related closure or delay? Let us know at info@statecollege.com.
ROAD CONDITIONS
Motorists can check real-time conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles in Pennsylvania by visiting 511PA.com, calling 5-1-1 or downloading the 511PA app on Android or iOS.
Speed limits are reduced to 45 miles per hour on Interstates 80 and 99 as of Saturday afternoon. Tier 1 restrictions are also in place on both highways prohibiting tractors without trailers or with unloaded or lightly loaded trailers, buses, RVs, motorcycles and passenger vehicles towing trailers.
SNOW EMERGENCIES
• State College declared a snow emergency at 4:15 p.m. Saturday. Vehicles must be removed from public roadways, and those that are not moved may be ticketed or towed. Borough ordinance requires residents and businesses to remove snow and ice from the full length and width of public sidewalks and handicap-accessible ramps within 24 hours after the storm ends.
• Harris Township has declared a snow emergency effective at noon on Saturday. Vehicles must be removed from township streets by 3 p.m. and until 24 hours after the snow has stopped. Residents without off-street parking options can use the lots at Blue Spring Park, Yoder Preserve, Nittany View Park and Fasick Park but should be aware these areas typically are not plowed.
• Patton Township has declared a snow emergency effective 3 p.m. on Saturday. All vehicles must be removed from township streets until the snow emergency is lifted, and sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours after snow has stopped.
• College Township has declared a snow emergency effective at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Street parking is not permitted until 48 hours after the snow has ended and roads have been cleared to the curb. Sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours after the storm has ended
• Ferguson Township requires vehicles to be removed from streets once 2 inches of snow has accumulated until 48 hours after snowfall ends. Residents have 24 hours after snow stops falling to clear their sidewalks.
• Penn State has declared a “Midnight Clear” from midnight Friday night through 7 a.m. Saturday and again from midnight Saturday night through 7 a.m. Sunday. Parking will be prohibited at all faculty and staff surface parking lots on campus, including Innovation Park. The roof levels of all five campus parking decks are closed now until Monday.
CLOSURES, POSTPONEMENTS & CANCELLATIONS
• Schlow Centre Region Library is closed on Saturday. Its virtual branch at schlowlibrary.org remains open all day every day.
• Centre County PAWS is closed on Saturday.
• Discovery Space is closing at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
• State College Area High School’s boys wrestling meet at McDevitt and boys basketball game at Williamsport scheduled for Saturday are postponed to a date to be determined. Girls wrestling will not travel to the Curwensville tournament, swimming and diving will not travel to the Bucknell Invitational and track and field will not participate in the Kevin Dare Invitational at Penn State.
• State College, Bellefonte and Penns Valley school district buildings are closed on Saturday.
PENN STATE STUDENT RETURN
With thousands of Penn State students set to return from winter break to the State College area this weekend, the university’s Housing and Food Services is encouraging University Park students to arrive early Saturday morning or mid-afternoon on Sunday.
“Due to the timing of the storm, residence halls at University Park will reopen at 6 a.m. on Saturday, two hours earlier than originally planned, to accommodate students and families who would like to arrive early to avoid the snow,” according to a Penn State news release.
EARLY RECYCLING AND REFUSE COLLECTION
Refuse and recycling collection scheduled for Saturday in Benner, College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton townships will begin at 6 a.m. because of the timing of the storm. Saturday’s collection is for those with normal service on Friday, which was delayed one day due to the New Year’s holiday.
