Operation Safe Holiday kicked off Monday with the “Click it or Ticket” Thanksgiving Enforcement Mobilization, aiming to keep Pennsylvania’s youngest travelers safe on the road. Today the focus is on weather and travel.
With holiday travel just around the corner, the Shapiro Administration reminds drivers to wear their seat belts, drive sober and eliminate distractions behind the wheel. This week, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), National Weather Service (NWS) and AAA came together to issue the reminder.
“We must all do our part to prevent crashes and fatalities,” said PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Cheryl Moon-Sirianni. “No matter how far or near you travel, we want everyone to arrive safely. Please designate a sober driver this holiday season. And buckle up! Your seat belt is your best defense against reckless drivers.”
NWS reports that snow squalls are one of the most dangerous winter weather phenomena. Would you know what to do if caught in a snow squall?
The Bradford area is not anticipating accumulating snow, at least for the next week.
The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts, for the Appalachian region, to “expect above-normal precipitation and snowfall. The snowiest spells will occur in late December, mid-to-late January, and early-to-mid-February. We expect a white Christmas in the higher terrain of West Virginia in the north, but not elsewhere in the region.”
For the Lower Lakes region, which includes Buffalo, N.Y, the prediction is, “Snowfall will be above normal, with the snowiest periods occurring in late December through most of January and in mid-February. There will be a white Christmas from New York westward to Wisconsin, but it’s not as likely south of I-90.”
As far as temperatures, the almanac predicts for the Appalachian region, “Winter temperatures will be below normal overall. December temperatures are just 1 degree below average; January and February temperatures are 3 to 4 degrees below average, respectively. The coldest period will run from early January through mid-February.”
And the Lower Lakes are looking at a cold one, “Winter will be colder than average for the Lower Lakes. The coldest periods will fall in early and late December and from January all the way through mid-February.”
So at some point this winter, a brief but intense period of heavy snow and strong winds that cause whiteout conditions — known as a snow squall — is possible. Similar to summertime thunderstorms, snow squalls often happen on days with partly cloudy skies. In a matter of minutes, a pleasant day with sunny skies can change to whiteout conditions. This is part of what makes snow squalls so dangerous.
They are most common between November and March.
With the holidays approaching and AAA estimates 55.4 million travelers will head out for Thanksgiving, at least 50 miles from home.
Should it be necessary, alerts will be issued before the start of the event, and can last up to an hour. Alerts and warnings are localized, like a tornado warning would be. Snow squall warnings, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), are sent when there is a substantial threat to safe travel. If in a Snow Squall Warning, expect reduced visibility, icy roadways and rapidly changing conditions. Expect reduced speeds on interstates.
“The National Weather Service issues Snow Squall Warnings as a means to save lives and prevent property loss by alerting for the sudden onset of life-threatening conditions encountered by highway travelers during snow squalls,” said Central Pennsylvania National Weather Service Meteorologist-in-Charge Ashley Evans. “When a Snow Squall Warning is issued, we encourage folks to delay travel or if already traveling, exit the roadway at the next opportunity. If you get caught driving in a snow squall, avoid slamming on the brakes, turn on the headlights and hazard lights, stay in your lane, and increase following distance. There is no safe place on a highway during a snow squall.”
Delay travel if an alert is active, at least until the event has passed through the area. If already on the road, find an exit and park until conditions improve. If it is not possible to exit the road, slow down gradually, turn on the headlights, turn on the hazards, stay in your lane and increase the distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Avoid slamming on the brakes because the conditions on the road can become icy in a few minutes, known as “flash freeze.” This slickness can lead to chain reaction motor vehicle accidents. Flash freezes are one of the NWS “sneaky” winter hazards because they can sneak up on a driver and make travel difficult. Even when it’s not precipitating, wet roads can quickly turn icy as temperatures dip below freezing. These unexpected slippery conditions can make driving hazardous. When roads look wet in the winter, stay cautious, slow down and don’t use cruise control. Before taking to the road, check conditions at 511pa.com
“It’s critically important for drivers to be weather aware when they head out during the winter months,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield. “We all have a role to play in being prepared, and that includes making sure you have a basic set of emergency supplies in your car like water, food and blankets, especially if you have children or pets.”