More snow, along with the all-too-familiar travel disruptions,
are in the forecast for today with a lake effect snow advisory in
effect until 4 p.m. – and it’s still two weeks until winter
begins.

It appears as though the snow is here to stay, according to Jeff
Warner, meteorologist at Penn State University. More cold air is
moving across Lake Erie, bringing snow across northern
Pennsylvania.

“High end amounts will be six, seven, eight or nine inches,”
Warner said, adding the heaviest snow is expected to hit near the
New York border.

“Most places will get three to four inches out of it,” he said.
The snow is expected to last through the afternoon or evening
today.

Meanwhile, Accuweather.com is calling for more snow and ice to
follow this storm, moving through the region Thursday causing
travel problems.

“By Thursday the storm will have the potential to develop into a
full-blown Nor-Easter, producing heavy snow from the Mid-Atlantic
States into New England on Thursday and Friday,” according to the
Web site for the Storm Center.

But that’s later on in the week, and, as Warner points out, that
won’t be lake effect snow.

“A more widespread general storm is approaching the area on
Thursday night,” he said. “The area is certainly at risk of snow
from that storm, but places to the southeast are at more of a
risk.

“You will get at least some more measurable snow,” Warner said,
“but it’s just a traditional, old-fashioned winter storm.

“Once that goes through, Thursday night and Friday morning, you
might have 24 to 36 hours where there’s not a real big threat for
snow showers,” he said, laughing a little.

“I’m not going to guarantee there’s not going to be a flurry in
the air.”

While area residents are accustomed to snow, the lake effect
storms usually stay to the north of this region. However, because
of weather patterns, the storms have been slamming into
Pennsylvania as well as New York state.

“It’s a pattern right now that’s very conducive to lake effect
snow,” Warner explained. “These bands are continually setting up
across the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. Some times it sets up in
Buffalo (N.Y.). Right now, it’s setting up in the Northern
Tier.

“Once it gets into a pattern, sometimes that pattern sticks
around for a week or 10 days,” he said.

He referred to the storm that hit the area last Friday, adding
this predicted storm follows the same pattern.

“The pattern does finally appear to be changing,” Warner added,
saying the lake effect storms should be shifting course away from
this region.

Even without lake effect storms, the coming months will be
filled with snowy forecasts. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency reminds residents to have supplies on hand in the event of a
weather emergency.

PEMA recommends having in your home a supply of drinking water,
a first-aid kit, canned/ no-cook food, a non-electric can opener, a
battery-powered radio, a flashlight and extra batteries, and a
supply of any medications needed.

While avoiding travel during winter storms is best, if travel is
necessary, do not travel alone and try to travel during the
daylight. Make sure vehicles are in good repair.

Supplies to be kept in vehicles include the following: shovel,
ice scraper, flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries,
water, snacks, hats and mittens, blankets, tow chains or ropes,
road salt and sand, booster cables, emergency flares and a
fluorescent distress flag.

PEMA also advises carrying a cell phone when traveling.