Light freezing rain is falling in central Pa. What's the latest on the forecast?

Update at 11: 15 a.m. Thursday: The speed and vehicle restrictions on most of the highways in south-central Pennsylvania have been lifted, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The only exception is for Interstate 81 from I-78 in Lebanon County to the Schuylkill County line. Both the speed and vehicle restrictions remain in effect.

Update at 6 a.m. Thursday: Light freezing rain is falling in south-central Pennsylvania, leading to icy conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather agency's latest advisory says that south central Pennsylvania could see snow and sleet accumulations of up to 4 inches. Ice accumulations of up to one-tenth of an inch is possible.

The highest amount of snow and sleet will fall north of I-81, the weather service says. Areas south of Route 30 will see less than an inch.

Speed restrictions of 45 m.p.h. also have been placed on highways in south-central Pennsylvania, including interstates 83, 81, 283 and 78, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Many schools are using a virtual learning day, allowing students to do work while at home. The districts include Dallastown Area, Dover Area, Hanover Public, Northeastern, Red Lion, Spring Grove, South Eastern, Southern York, York City and York Suburban.

York County offices and the courthouse are closed today because of the inclement weather, according to the county's Facebook page.

Update at 2 p.m. Wednesday: The state Department of Transportation will be placing vehicle restrictions on highways in central Pennsylvania, starting Thursday morning, and is urging drivers to avoid unnecessary travel.

Tier 1 restrictions start at 6 a.m. Thursday for the entire length of Interstates 83 and 283 as well as Interstate 81 from the Maryland border to Interstate 80.

The following vehicles are not permitted on those roads:

• Tractors without trailers

• Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers

• Tractors towing unloaded or lightly-loaded tandem trailers

• Enclosed unloaded or lightly-loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV

• Passenger vehicles towing trailers, recreational vehicles/motorhomes

• School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches

• Motorcycles

Other roadways throughout the state are impacted as well. Check 511PA.com for more information.

Update at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday: A winter weather advisory has been issued for south-central Pennsylvania as the area could receive one to three inches of snow and sleet on Thursday from a winter storm, according to the National Weather Service.

The advisory covers Adams, Franklin, Lebanon and York counties as well as other areas. It is in effect from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Forecasters warn that roads could be slippery, and drivers could face hazardous conditions for the morning and evening commutes, according to the advisory.

The precipitation is expected to switch over to rain later in the day, the advisory says.

For Adams County, forecasters predict a chance of snow and sleet in the early morning hours on Thursday, followed by freezing rain and sleet. Less than a half inch of accumulation is possible. During the day, residents will likely see rain, freezing rain, and sleet. One to two inches of sleet could accumulate, the weather service says. The switch over to rain is expected after 4 p.m.

For Lebanon County, forecasters are calling for a chance of snow and sleet after 4 a.m. During the day, the area will likely see a wintry mix, the weather service says. One to two inches of accumulation is possible. Rain will fall Thursday night.

For York County, the weather service is calling for a chance of snow during the early morning hours on Thursday. It predicts that rain, freezing rain and sleet will fall. Less than an inch of sleet is predicted. The switch over to rain is expected around 2 p.m.

Previously reported:

South-central Pennsylvania is facing its first threat of wintry weather later this week.

Meteorologists are watching a storm that could deliver a wintry mix − snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain − on Thursday that will likely switch over to just rain as the temperature rises.

"It would be our first bout of wintry weather if it occurs," said Tom Kines, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.com.

The moisture will be coming from two storms: one in the West that could dump up to 2 feet of snow in some spots and another off the mid-Atlantic Coast, he said.

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The National Weather Service says it will depend on the track of the storm whether the area could see some wintry precipitation or just rain. It sees the potential for some snow to fall at the start, then switch over to a mix and eventually going over to rain, meteorologist Steve Travis said.

Some precipitation could linger into Friday, and it will likely remain as rain, he said.

Drivers should be prepared for tricky travel, especially on Thursday morning, Travis said. And it could get nasty for anyone heading out of south-central Pennsylvania. Areas to the north and west expect to see more snow.

In south-central Pennsylvania, it's most likely to be more liquid than frozen precipitation, Kines said.

But meteorologists warn that the forecast could change.

"It's definitely a storm that we need to keep an eye on," Kines said.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Central Pennsylvania to see snow, sleet and freezing rain this week