Jonestown, PA Severe Weather Alertstar_ratehome

The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a

* Snow Squall Warning for...
Dauphin County in south central Pennsylvania...
Lebanon County in south central Pennsylvania...
Schuylkill County in central Pennsylvania...

* Until 400 AM EST.

* At 234 AM EST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line
extending from Huntington Mills to Stonington to Mcalisterville,
moving southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Whiteout conditions with near zero visibility associated
with intense bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds leading
to blowing snow. Wind gusts greater than 35 mph.

SOURCE...Radar and webcams.

IMPACT...Travel will become difficult and potentially dangerous
within minutes.

This includes the following Interstates...
The Pennsylvania Turnpike from mile markers 246 to 266.
Interstate 78 from mile markers 0 to 8.
Interstate 81 from mile markers 66 to 139.
Interstate 83 from mile markers 43 to 50.
Interstate 283 from mile markers 0 to 2.

This snow squall will be near...
Nuremburg, Millersburg, and Klingerstown around 250 AM EST.
Frackville, Shenandoah, and Ashland around 300 AM EST.
St. Clair, Mahanoy City, and Minersville around 310 AM EST.
Pottsville, Harrisburg, and Progress around 320 AM EST.
Hummelstown, Hershey, and Orwigsburg around 330 AM EST.

Other locations impacted by this snow squall include Ravine, Mary-D,
Cumbola, Jonestown, and Avon Heights.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If traveling on a highway, find the nearest exit or rest area and
park safely away from traffic. Allow snow squalls to pass before
attempting to resume travel.

Serious injuries and deaths may result from people exiting their
vehicles during a snow squall. Drivers may not be able to see you or
stop! If you have been involved in an accident or pulled to the side
of the roadway, quickly exit your vehicle and move as far away from
the roadway as possible ONLY when it is safe to do so. Do not stand
along or near the roadway, since approaching vehicles may be unable
to maintain control.

&&


SNOW SQUALL...OBSERVED

...A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR SNOW SQUALLS WILL BE IN PLACE
TONIGHT...

A strong cold front moving in will help to generate a line of
heavier snow showers and possibly embedded dangerous snow squalls
across northwest and central Pennsylvania.

We expect heavy snow showers and possible squalls to be on a line
from:
* Near Coudersport to Bradford to Warren between 10 and 11 pm.
* Near Mansfield to St. Mary's to Dubois between 11 pm and
midnight.
* Near Jersey Shore to Lock Haven to Clearfield between midnight
and 1 am.
* Near Williamsport to State College to Altoona to Somerset between
1 and 2 am.
* Near Bloomsburg to Harrisburg to Mechanicsburg between 2 and 3
am.
* Near Lancaster to York between 3 and 4 am.

If snow squalls develop, they will last for up to 10 to 15
minutes in any one location, with up to a half-inch to an inch of
snow in that timeframe, along with possible wind gusts of 30 to 40
mph.

This would result in a quick reduction in visibility and
perhaps localized icy roads, should a flash freeze develop. Low
traction and blinding visibility of a snow squall can make travel
very dangerous very quickly. If this combination of ingredients
becomes imminent, snow squall warnings would be issued, with very
specific information on timing, movement, and portions of
interstate highways to be affected.

Please monitor the latest conditions in your area overnight if you
will be out driving. Use extra caution if you must travel into a
snow squall, slow down, and consider exiting the highway. Rapid
changes in visibility and potentially slick roads may lead to
accidents. Please use extreme caution and allow plenty of stopping
distance. Avoid braking suddenly.