Brace yourself and be prepared: the drive to work today may be a challenge. A winter weather advisory that went into effect at 10 p.m. Thursday remains in effect today until 1 p.m. The advisory, which is for Warren, McKean, Potter and Tioga counties, warns of mixed precipitation changing to heavy snow, with total accumulations of three to five inches of snow.
The advisory warns of slippery road conditions, which “may impact the morning commute.”
Mike Colbert, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in State College, explained that the weather is a continuation of this week’s wintry conditions.
“This is part of the same storm system that has been impacting us over the last couple days with rounds of precipitation,” Colbert said. “Another batch of steady rain will move in, then change over to snow.”
Colbert explained that the transition in McKean County was set to begin Thursday evening with a mix that included freezing rain. The switch to snow was expected shortly afterward.
“About 5 a.m., temps should drop into the upper 20s and it looks like snow will begin. By the time it ends in the middle of the day (Friday), snowfall totals of 3 to 5 inches are expected,” Colbert noted.
For those heading to work before 9 a.m., the snowfall is expected to be heaviest between 7 and 8 a.m. The fall is expected to be a band of steady snow, rather than squalls that will impact visibility unexpectedly.
Colbert said the temperatures Friday are expected to start out at 30 around 3 a.m., fall to 25 by 6 a.m. and be at a low of 23 in the afternoon.
The evening will arrive with still colder temperatures.
“Friday night, we will see the temperatures go into the teens. By that time, anything left on roads or sidewalks will probably be frozen more solid,” Colbert stated.
The area should see a break on Saturday morning, as the lake effect snow showers will be primarily west of us in the evening and then dry conditions will move in for Saturday afternoon.
“It will be colder than it has been, with temperatures on Saturday afternoon in the 20s, and lows will be down to about 10 Saturday night,” Colbert predicted.
