Where things stand with the storm
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
(Harrisburg) — As the clock strikes noon, let’s take a look at where things stand in central Pennsylvania due to the winter storm blanketing the east coast.
The storm got started a few hours early yesterday and is showing no signs of letting up.
York and Lancaster counties are under a blizzard warning until 7:00 tomorrow morning.
Winter storm warnings are in effect for the entire region.
They expire at varying times:
4:00 p.m. today for Snyder and Union counties
6:00 p.m. tonight for Columbia and Northumberland counties
Midnight for Juniata and Mifflin counties
6:00 a.m. tomorrow for Berks County
7:00 a.m tomorrow for Adams, Cumberland, Daphin, Franklin, Perry and Schuylkill counties.
The National Weather Service in State College says the snowfall should start wrapping up tonight through midnight.
Travel bans have been enacted in the cities of York and Lancaster.
Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse has declared a disaster emergency in the city.
He says 14-16 inches of snow struck the city overnight, breaking the 24-hour record for snowfall in the city.
“We are clearly dealing with an historic event in our City,” said Mayor Papenfuse in a statement, “but I’m confident our emergency responders and Public Works staff are well prepared to manage this storm.
The declaration will make it easier for city officials to secure the equipment, resources and personnel needed to battle the severe weather, said Fire Chief Brian Enterline.
It also opens the door for the City to receive financial support from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).
Papenfuse says Public Works crews have been working to plow major roads, so people and businesses are being asked to avoid using snow blowers to throw snow back into the street and reminded to to shovel sidewalks in front of their properties.
They are also should not to place chairs or obstacles in parking spaces.
Will some areas, like Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, and York counties, get three feet of snow?
Crazy, right?
WITF’s Ben Allen is in one Harrisburg neighborhood and says it’s quiet outside:
Most of the region will see 18-24 inches of snow.
PennDOT is working round-the-clock to keep roads passable. Here’s an earlier round-up of restrictions imposed on major highways and the Turnpike.
The Pennsylvania National Guard has been called to assist pockets of stranded motorists, who are in the westbound lanes of the Turnpike near the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel in Somerset County. Among those stranded are the Duquense University men’s basketball team and the Temple Univesity women’s gymnastic team.
Sorry, NBC. The Washington Capitals won’t be hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow as scheduled.
NPR looked at all the cliches surrounding #blizzard2016.
So, you like to snow. Is it safe?
It was pretty lonely this morning outside the WITF studios. (Tim Lambert/WITF)
*This story has been updated to include information about the city of Harrisburg’s disaster declaration.
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