Preparations are underway for an approaching winter storm anticipated to deliver different types of wintry precipitation to the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.
Road crews have been seen applying a salt brine solution on several roadways across the region.
The National Weather Service has also placed most of Eastern Pennsylvania under a winter weather advisory effective midnight Wednesday night through noon Thursday.
According to meteorologist Bobby Martrich of Eastern Pa Weather Authority, the system will arrive Wednesday night with snow initially, then changing to sleet, then freezing rain overnight, and continuing into Thursday morning.
A significant icing event is possible with this system for parts of the region.
Morning freezing rain is expected Thursday, then remaining cloudy in the afternoon with temperatures rising above freezing, according to Martrich.
Expect delays and slow travel for the Thursday morning commute.
A mostly sunny and seasonable day follows on Friday.
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO NOON EST THURSDAY... WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations between one tenth and two tenths of an inch. WHERE...Portions of northern New Jersey and east central, northeast, and southeast Pennsylvania. WHEN...From midnight Wednesday Night to noon EST Thursday. IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511
For the latest details with snow/sleet and ice maps, visit: https://epawaweather.com/weather-alerts/
Map Legend - Eastern PA Weather Authority
Map Legend - Eastern PA Weather Authority
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM PENNSYVLNAIA DEPARTI
The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, February 5, in accordance with Tier 2 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
PA Turnpike I-70/76 from the Breezewood exit to the Harrisburg East exit.
The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, February 5, in accordance with Tier 4 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
PA Turnpike I-70/76 from the New Stanton exit to the Breezewood exit.
The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 12:01 AM on Thursday, February 6, in accordance with Tier 2 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
PA Turnpike Northeast Extension I-476 from the Lehigh Valley exit to the Clarks Summit exit.
The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 12:01 AM on Thursday, February 6, in accordance with Tier 4 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
I-70 from PA Turnpike I-76 to the Maryland border.
I-79 from PA Turnpike I-76 to the end of I-79 North.
I-80 from Exit 4 to Exit 173.
I-81 from the Maryland border to I-80.
I-83, entire length.
I-99, entire length.
I-376 from Toll 376 to I-80.
Route 22 from Route 119 to I-99.
The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 4:00 AM on Thursday, February 6, in accordance with Tier 4 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
I-78, entire length.
I-80 from Exit 173 to I-81.
I-81 from I-83 to I-80
I-180, entire length.
I-283, entire length.
Route 22/322 from I-81 to I-99.
Route 22 from I-78 and Route 33.
The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 7:00 AM on Thursday, February 6, in accordance with Tier 4 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
I-80 from I-81 to the New Jersey border.
Route 33, full length.
Under Tier 2 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways:
Tractors without trailers.
Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers.
Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers.
Tractors towing loaded tandem trailers without chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs).
Enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV.
Passenger vehicles (cars, SUV’s, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers.
Recreational vehicles/motorhomes.
School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches, regardless of the availability of trains or ATDs.
Motorcycles.
On roadways with Tier 4 restrictions in place, no commercial vehicles are permitted. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.
For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a free smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X.
To report an incident or emergency on the PA Turnpike, dial *11 on your mobile phone. The PA Turnpike will provide updates on their social channels, on their roadway and at all service plazas.