The last full day of winter must have left some northern Blair County residents wondering if the snowy weather would ever end considering a last blast storm which hit Thursday evening into the morning hours today.
Winter storm warnings predicted a storm which would bring between four to eight inches of snow to some parts of Blair County.
However, according to morning Meteorologist Brian Schroeder of WTAJ-TV in Altoona, the snowfall amounts were more in the range of three to six inches by 8 a.m. this morning.
“I measured only about three inches outside of our studios,” said Schroeder. “There was light rain which started last night around 7 p.m. which then turned to snow and continued into the overnight hours.
“Some places in Centre County got hit a little worse than we did,” said Schroeder. “Port Matilda measured seven inches while State College had six inches, while reports show a range of two to three inches in Blair County.”
A winter storm warning for Blair County expired at 8 a.m. and no new watches or warnings were posted at that time. The snowfall amounts from the latest storm varied significantly with reports at 5 a.m. of just a dusting in far northern and southern sections of the state with three to six inches north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and into the central mountains.
“So far this winter we have received 71.3 inches of snow since October. On average we get about 48 and a half inches between October and April,” said Schroeder.
School districts reacted to the situation with Tyrone Area putting a two-hour delay into effect with modified Kindergarten an a cancellation of morning pre-school. Delays were more prevalent in Centre and Huntingdon counties.
Forecasts called for conditions to improve as the day progressed with skies clearing up and sunshine pushing temperatures above freezing which would allow for the melting of some of the snow, ice and slush on the roadways.
More improvement is expected by Saturday with temperatures reaching the upper 40s and some rain developing by afternoon. It will turn colder on Sunday with a high in the low 40s and some flurries expected. After a cold Monday, temperatures should start to climb during the remainder of the month with a high in the 60s by next Friday. Temperatures should then remain in the 50s and 60s during the last week of March and into the early part of April.
With Spring arriving on Saturday, forecasters are making long range predictions for the spring which include above normal temperatures for most of the country during the 90-day period from April to June. Precipitation is expected to be above normal locally during the same 90-day period.
