First winter storm of the season causes road closures, snow emergencies in Centre County
Centre County’s first storm of the winter season arrived Saturday, with heavy snow through the afternoon causing havoc on local roads and leading numerous businesses to close early.
Before this weekend, the State College area had seen just under 1 inch of measurable snowfall so far this winter. This weekend’s storm was expected to bring far more to much of central Pennsylvania — just as thousands planned on traveling back to Penn State before its spring semester begins.
By Saturday evening, snowfall reports ranged from 4.6 inches in State College to 5.5 inches in Port Matilda. While the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning through 10 p.m. Saturday, lighter snow was expected after 7 p.m.
On Saturday afternoon, both Route 350 — from Bald Eagle/Snappy’s to the Sandy Ridge area — and U.S. Route 322 from Port Matilda to Philipsburg were closed briefly due to poor road conditions and crashes.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation placed vehicle and speed restrictions on several area roadways, most of which were lifted by Saturday night. Many restaurants and businesses closed early due to the weather and road conditions.
Penn State move-in changes
In a statement issued Thursday, Penn State said it was monitoring the storm as students and their families make their way back to the University Park campus.
Penn State reopened its residence halls at 6 a.m. Saturday, two hours before originally planned. Penn State Housing and Food Services encouraged students to return either Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon to avoid the bulk of the storm.
Information regarding spring semester arrivals and any potential changes is available online at arrival.psu.edu.
Penn State also issued a “midnight clear” for snow removal slated for Friday and Saturday night. The issuance prohibited parking at all faculty/staff parking lots (including Innovation Park) from midnight Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday and again from midnight Saturday through 7 a.m. Sunday. Meanwhile, the roof levels of all five campus parking decks are now closed and will reopen Monday.
Snow emergencies
State College Borough declared a snow emergency Saturday afternoon. All parked vehicles must be removed from public roadways.
College Township declared a snow emergency effective at 4 p.m. Saturday. Street parking is not permitted and parked vehicles must be removed from public streets.
Harris Township declared a snow emergency that took effect at 9 a.m. Saturday. All vehicles must be removed from all township streets.
Patton Township declared a snow emergency that took effect at 3 p.m. Saturday. All vehicles must be removed from township streets until the snow emergency has ended.
Ferguson Township reminded residents that parking on township streets, roads and highways within 48 hours after a snowfall of two inches or more is prohibited. Any remaining vehicles may be ticketed and/or towed. Residents should also keep their sidewalks clear of snow and ice.
Central Pennsylvania’s snow forecast
According to Accuweather’s online forecast, little to no snow accumulation is expected on Sunday. Motorists should expect slippery travel early Sunday and then see improvement in road conditions.
But early in the week, another storm may be on its way. A second storm will impact the area Tuesday into Wednesday with gusty winds and a wintry mix turning to rain, according to the National Weather Service, which said flooding may be possible due to snow melt from the rain.
Checking traffic cameras across Pennsylvania
Want to monitor road conditions before heading out in a winter storm? Consider browsing a large network of traffic cameras and live video feeds through 511PA, which manages travel information and traffic alerts for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
You can find cameras at key intersections and highways across Pennsylvania by visiting 511pa.com/cameralisting.aspx. Options are available for major cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, plus State College, Harrisburg, Altoona and even Scranton and the Pocono Mountains.
Locally, traffic cameras and live video feeds are offered for the following routes near State College and Centre County:
Atherton Street
Interstate 180
Interstate 80
Interstate 99
Pennsylvania Route 150
Pennsylvania Route 147
Pennsylvania Route 3014
Pennsylvania Route 45
U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 219
U.S. Route 220
U.S. Route 255
U.S. Route 322
You should be able to use these cameras and video feeds to briefly examine traffic levels, road conditions and visibility, among other qualities. These feeds, generally labeled by intersection, include multiple vantage points and usually offer streaming video.
