Travel “strongly discouraged” amid significant ice storm
Motorists were strongly advised to avoid travel across central Pennsylvania on Thursday morning as an ongoing ice storm continues to have a significant impact on the area.
Newsweek reached out to the National Weather Service (NWS) office in State College, Pennsylvania, by phone for comment.
Why It Matters
Widespread freezing rain hit the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday. NWS meteorologists warned of dangerous travel as the sleet and freezing rain falls on roadways.
Residents living in the affected areas were urged to keep informed with forecasts, especially if planning on traveling during the storm.
What To Know
As of Thursday morning, numerous NWS weather alerts remained in place as the winter storm moves through. Winter weather advisories spanned from Indiana through Maine, and Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia also had an ice storm warning in place.
Meteorologists warned of “significant icing” that would continue to cause problems Thursday morning. Up to half an inch of ice could accumulate throughout the morning from ongoing freezing rain, which could down tree branches and cause power outages.
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Strong winds with gusts up to 30 mph accompanied the storm and could cause power outages by breaking tree limbs.
As of 10 a.m. Eastern time, thousands of people across the region had reported power outages. The most widespread outages were in Virginia and West Virginia, with reported outages at more than 53,800 and nearly 18,500, respectively.
Meteorologists anticipate that temperatures will warm up throughout the morning, which will end the freezing rain. Temperatures are expected to reach the 40s by the afternoon in Pennsylvania’s State College area.
NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist David Roth previously told Newsweek that the best thing people can do during an ice storm is stay inside and avoid roads and sidewalks.
What People Are Saying
The NWS office in State College said in an ice storm warning: “Travel is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power outages.”
The NWS office in Baltimore said in an ice storm warning: “Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread power outages. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute.”
What Happens Next
Both ice storm warnings are set to expire at noon Eastern time on Thursday. The winter weather advisory will expire at the same time for the Baltimore region, but the expiration times will creep further into the afternoon for more northern states.
