Updated 5:25 a.m. Dec. 2.
Central Pennsylvania’s first anticipated widespread snow accumulation of the season is causing closures, delays and parking impacts for Tuesday around Centre County.
The National Weather Service at State College has issued a winter weather advisory for the county from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. AccuWeather forecasts 2 to 4 inches of snow, starting in the pre-dawn hours and continuing at varying intensities until early afternoon.
Drivers should plan for slippery road conditions on Tuesday morning.
Here’s what’s affected by the expected wintry weather.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
• State College Area School District schools are closed on Tuesday. All afterschool activities are cancelled. District offices will open at noon.
• Bald Eagle Area School District buildings are closed on Tuesday and students will have a flexible instruction day.
• Bellefonte Area School District buildings are closed on Tuesday and students will have a flexible instruction day.
• Penns Valley Area School District buildings are closed on Tuesday and students will have a virtual instruction day.
PENN STATE
Penn State has canceled classes, activities and work at the University Park campus from 5 a.m. until noon on Tuesday. Only employees who perform services identified as essential to maintaining operations should report to campus as directed. Instructors of in-person classes or hybrid classes with a scheduled in-person day may offer content asynchronously. Web-only classes will be held as planned.
CENTRE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
• As of Monday evening, county government offices are scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
• County court offices and the courthouse will have a delayed opening at noon. This includes the Court of Common Pleas, court administration, probation and parole department, domestic relations and district courts. Court proceedings affected by the delay may be rescheduled to a later date and/or time, and involved parties will be notified.
• The Bellefonte, Centre Hall and Snow Shoe Senior Centers and Centre Region Active Adult Center will be closed.
• The Centre County Office of Aging has canceled home-delivered meal services for Tuesday.
SNOW EMERGENCIES
Several Centre Region municipalities have declared snow emergencies or reminded residents of regulations during winter storms.
• Ferguson Township: Vehicles must be removed from all township roads after 2 or more inches of snow/ice for 48 hours. Vehicles in violation may be ticketed or towed. Sidewalks, as well as handicap-accessible ramps, must be cleared of snow and ice of amount within 24 hours after the precipitation has ended.
• Harris Township: Snow emergency in effect beginning at 5 a.m. Dec. 2 and vehicles must be removed from township streets by 8 a.m., when ticketing will begin. Public parking for those without off street parking options is available in Nittany View Park, Blue Spring Park, Yoder Preserve, and the municipal building parking lot. These areas are not typically plowed. The snow emergency will automatically end 24 hours after the snow has stopped.
• Patton Township: Snow emergency in effect beginning at 8 a.m. Dec. 2. Vehicles must be removed from township streets by that time until the snow emergency has ended. Residents are also reminded that they must clear the entire width of any sidewalk on their property within 24 hours after the precipitation ends.
• State College Borough: The borough may declare a snow emergency during major snowfalls. When that happens, all parked vehicles must be moved off public roadways.
Some borough streets are designated Snow Removal Zones due to recurring challenges identified by public works crews. Once snowfall reaches 3 inches, all vehicles in these zones must be removed from the posted areas.
Snow and ice of any amount must be removed from the entire length and width of public sidewalks and all handicap-accessible ramps within 24 hours after the snowfall ends.
Snow and ice should be cleared so refuse and organic carts can be placed at the curb for pickup. Carts should not be set on top of windrows or snow piles. Avoid placing bulk items or brush out for collection when snowfall is expected.
STATE HIGHWAYS
PennDOT will implement various speed and vehicle restrictions throughout the storm. Currently planned restrictions on state-maintained highways as of Monday evening are east of Centre County and will begin at 5 a.m. Those include tier 1 restrictions on I-80 from Exit 173 at Lamar to the New Jersey border. Tier 1 prohibits tractors without trailers, tractors with lightly loaded or unloaded trailers, unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks, passenger vehicles towing trailers, RVs, busses and motorcycles.
“PennDOT and PA Turnpike crews will actively pre-treat 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,” according to a news release on Monday. “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.”
For up-to-date road conditions and travel restrictions, visit 511pa.com
