Santa's reindeer cleared for takeoff despite wild winter weather in Poconos

Prepare for some wild winter weather if you plan on traveling for the holidays, as the Poconos expect a mix of temperature extremes, precipitation and whipping winds over the next few days.

While the National Weather Service is calling for a potential case of snow followed by rain on Thursday, Friday will kick off a what meteorologist and Pocono weather expert Benjamin Gelber calls "quite a weather scenario!"

According to Gelber, a storm is set to develop in the southern plains and track east of St. Louis and Chicago on Thursday, before intensifying rapidly over the Great Lakes early Friday. This "powerful winter system" will gain energy from a surge of arctic air from Siberia, generating powerful winds which will create blizzard conditions in the interior of the Keystone State on Friday afternoon.

Several inches of snow are expected to accumulate in the central and western mountains, with heavier amounts expected to blanket the northwestern part of the state in "lake-enhanced snow bursts."

Gelber noted the Poconos will see rain and mild weather on Friday morning, with temperatures in the low 50s, before the arrival of an arctic cold front around noon.

"There will be a rapid change to snow, but the duration will be short-lived, as drier air sweeping around the storm from the southwest will limit accumulations to a coating in the Stroudsburgs, and 1 to 2 inches on the Pocono Plateau," Gelber said.

Travel will be impacted by blowing snow in higher elevations as the day goes on, Gelber notes, adding flash freezes due to temperatures plummeting 30 degrees into the 20s, and then the teens on the evening, along with strong wind gusts of 40 mph or higher.

Power outages and difficult road conditions are to be expected, Gelber said.

And that's just the start of the holiday weekend, which will be one of the coldest the area has seen in almost four decades.

"The weather will be frigid during the holiday weekend, with a few flurries, and gusty winds Christmas Eve of 20 to 30 mph, diminishing on Christmas Day, as arctic high pressure builds in," Gelber said. "Morning readings will dip into the single digits and afternoon temperatures will struggle to reach 20 degrees. Christmas weekend will be the coldest in the region since 1983."

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Play it safe this weekend

As for all winter driving, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recommends those traveling on the holiday weekend to play it safe.

PennDOT advises to keep track of weather and travel advisories, and to avoid travel if possible during inclement conditions.

But in case you have to go somewhere, make sure to prepare an emergency travel kit ahead of time, with items like flashlights and batteries, a battery-operated radio, jumper cables, a cell phone with a charger, snow shovels, matches and candles, first aid supplies, extra warm clothing and gloves, blankets, ice scrapers, sand, bottled water, non-perishable food, and any other necessities, such as medication, baby or pet supplies.

If you must hit the road when it gets extra chilly this weekend, PennDOT also recommends keeping you gas tank at least half full, slowing down and increasing following distance from other vehicles, avoiding sudden stops and starts, keeping an eye out for black ice, using extra caution while crossing bridges and ramps, removing snow and ice from your vehicle both before you leave and as needed during travel, and, as always, wearing your seatbelt and avoiding drinking and driving.

Before heading out, take a look at the PA511 website, which provides up-to-date information on road conditions and weather alerts.

Santa cleared for takeoff

Of course, there's one person who doesn't have to worry about the condition of the roads this weekend, as Santa's nine reindeer were given a clean bill of health and cleared for take-off on Christmas eve by Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Pennsylvania State Veterinarian Dr. Kevin Brightbill, and Old Saint Nick himself at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane on Wednesday.

“Not everyone knows what takes place behind the scenes to allow Santa and his nine reindeer to take flight on Christmas Eve,” Redding said. “Thanks to Dr. Brightbill, his counterpart in the North Pole, the care of ZooAmerica veterinarians, and Santa’s due diligence, families can expect gifts under the tree Christmas morning.”

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, and Rudolph received clearance to fly to Pennsylvania from Dr. Robert F. Gerlach, Alaska’s state veterinarian. This Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Permit to Ship allows them to fly from rooftop to rooftop in Pennsylvania for the purpose of toy delivery with the assurance that they won't carry contagious diseases across state lines.

According to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company Public Relations Manager Amanda Polyak, "Hersheypark is honored that Santa trusts his nine reindeer to the care of our ZooAmerica team throughout the holiday season." Polyak noted visitors can see the reindeer at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane after they return from delivering gifts.

“I’m grateful to Dr. Gerlach for his thorough inspection of these reindeer,” Brightbill said. “According to their certificates, despite one’s glaringly red nose and their magical ability to fly, word is that they’re in extraordinary health!”

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Poconos expect coldest Christmas weekend in nearly four decades