A significant winter storm has blanketed central Pennsylvania, bringing heavy snowfall that intensified overnight into Sunday morning. As daylight emerged, reports indicated that the Johnstown area had accumulated approximately five inches of snow by 10 a.m., with snowfall persisting throughout the morning. Meteorologists predict that conditions will continue to worsen as the storm progresses.
Despite the accumulating snow, dispatch centers within the region’s 10-county coverage area reported minimal weather-related incidents by midmorning. In Elk County, officials noted only a small number of vehicles stuck due to the snow. Traffic cameras on the state’s 511pa.com website displayed mostly clear roadways, suggesting that many drivers heeded advisories to refrain from travel.
Chief Meteorologist Caitlin Westerholm warned that the storm could see snowfall rates peak at one to two inches per hour, which could create increasingly hazardous travel conditions as the day goes on. Forecasters anticipate these rates to begin easing around 7 p.m. on Sunday evening.
In light of the impending dangerous conditions, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) preemptively closed several major roadways starting at midnight Saturday into Sunday, including Routes 22 and 219. Additionally, PennDOT instituted Tier 4 vehicle restrictions across the entire Pennsylvania interstate highway system, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike and its extensions. These restrictions, effective from midnight Saturday, prohibit all commercial vehicles from using the affected roadways.
Moreover, the Tier 4 restrictions encompass school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs, motorhomes, and passenger vehicles towing trailers, including cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks. PennDOT officials have urged drivers to avoid unnecessary travel and cautioned that road conditions can change rapidly during heavy snowfall.
With the community taking safety precautions, there is hope that these measures will help mitigate potential hazards during the storm, ensuring the well-being of residents in central Pennsylvania.