The first real bout of winter weather hit the area yesterday even though the calendar read Dec. 7.
The actual first day of winter is about two weeks away. The day of the winter solstice contains the shortest amount of daylight for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Associated Press reported cold temperatures and slick roads caused traffic accidents, several of them fatal, across western Pennsylvania on Thursday.
AP reported Cheryl A. Cassett, of Revloc, died after she lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a tree while driving on a snow-covered road in Cambria County, state police at Ebensburg said.
AP also said Gloria Cunningham, 54, died in a chain-reaction accident during a snow squall on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bedford County, state police at Everett said. A passenger, William Cunningham, 58, of Lancaster, was injured.
According to AP, Police across the region also reported overturned tractor trailers and cars skidding off ice- and snow-covered roads. Only about an inch of snow fell in the Pittsburgh area. Farther north, near Lake Erie, Meadville received at least five inches of snow.
In northern Blair County, snow totals varied and the bulk of the snow occurred last night and during the overnight hours today. Snow amounting to a couple of inches to a few inches fell during that period. The snow fell earlier on Thursday to the west of the area.
NFL Network commentators noted a late-arriving crowd due to the weather during last night’s broadcast of Steelers/Browns game played at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. NFL officials received an escort from the airport to the stadium in order to arrive in time for the game according to Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network announcer Bill Hillgrove.
Hollidaysburg state police reported a one-vehicle accident on I-99 at the Bald Eagle off ramp in Snyder Township. The crash occurred at 4:26 p.m. when 57-year-old Harold E. Mills was traveling north on I-99. Mills lost control of his vehicle on the ice-covered road and struck a large construction message board. Mills suffered minor injuries and was wearing a seat belt. His vehicle had minor damage.
The Tyrone Area School District ran on a normal schedule today. The Bellwood-Antis School District had a two-hour delay this morning. The District had already scheduled an early dismissal this afternoon related to the Bellwood-Antis High School Football PIAA playoff game versus Southern Columbia. The game is scheduled to be played tonight in Shamokin, which in normal driving conditions is about a two-and-a-half drive.
The National Weather Service forecast called for mostly cloudy skies and brisk conditions today. Snow showers were likely this morning and were expected to taper to isolated snow showers this afternoon. Additional accumulations of an inch or less were predicted with a high temperature in the upper 20s. Winds from the northwest of 20 to 25 miles per hour then becoming westerly at 10 to 20 miles were also forecast. Tonight clear skies and a low of 15 is forecast with west winds from 10 to 15 miles per hour.
The forecast calls for improving conditions this weekend. On Saturday, it should be mostly sunny and not as cold with a high in the upper 30s. By Sunday, sunny skies and even warmer temperatures are forecast. The high Sunday is predicted to be in the upper 40s. Highs from Monday through next Thursday are expected to in the upper 40s. After a low Saturday night in the lower 20s, Low temperatures during the remainder of the extended forecast should range from the upper 20s to the lower 30s.
The next best chance for precipitation, in the form of rain, is on Wednesday and Thursday.
AP through the services of Weather Underground also reported snow accumulations could range from 2 feet along the shores of Lake Erie to 10 inches throughout portions of western New York. Cold temperatures were forecast across the Northeast today, with highs maxing out in the 10s in some areas.
