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First there was Gov. Tom Wolf’s state of emergency declaration.
Then there was PennDOT’s announcement of a 24-hour full commercial vehicle ban on interstate highways across Pennsylvania starting at noon Saturday, including trucks and buses.
Just in case you didn’t get the message, electronic signs along the North Cross Valley Expressway and other area highways Friday night said it all: “Avoid travel Saturday.”
None of this means motorists cannot go out onto the roads — the declaration does not restrict citizens from travel on commonwealth roadways — but motorists “should be aware of any restrictions that are in place and heed the guidance of local authorities,” PennDOT officials said.
Truth be told, if this storm is as nasty as predicted, you probably just won’t want to go out if you don’t have to.
The goal is to keep drivers safe and to keep the roads clear for PennDOT’s plows to do their work.
“This is more aggressive and different than what we’ve done in the past where we’ve just had a restriction on certain trucks, maybe if they’re empty trucks, but this is a full commercial vehicle ban,” PennDOT spokesman James May said Friday.
The weather
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect from noon today until 4 p.m. Sunday. Here’s what you need to know about their predictions:
• Total snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch are expected, with winds gusting as high as 35 mph, causing areas of blowing and drifting snow.
• The heaviest snow is expected Saturday evening, with snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour possible.
• Freezing rain and sleet will mix with the snow between midnight and 9 a.m. Sunday.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the NWS warning states. “Also, winds will pick up considerably Sunday afternoon, causing blowing snow and dangerously low wind chills into Sunday night.”
Roads and buses
PennDOT on Friday was preparing an “aggressive” statewide response as an intense winter storm approaches the East Coast, with a 45 mph speed restriction to be implemented as the storm moves eastward across Pennsylvania.
Those plans also include a commercial vehicle ban on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and most interstate highways from noon Saturday until noon Sunday, state Department of Transportation officials said during a press conference Friday afternoon.
That will include buses. So if your plans included long-distance travel, be aware they could be disrupted:
• Martz Trailways has cancelled service during the commercial travel ban. Information on what services will and won’t be running this weekend is available at martztrailways.com.
• Greyhound is encouraging riders to check BusTracker.Greyhound.com for updates on its services.
• LCTA as of Friday night said all fixed route buses and shared ride van trips for Saturday are set to run as scheduled, subject to change if weather conditions deteriorate. LCTA does not operate on Sundays.
Disruption and cancellations
School, social and community events set for today were rescheduled or canceled on Friday, and everyone is advised to check before heading out.
Wilkes University canceled its winter commencement ceremony that was set for Sunday. Graduating students have been invited to attend the spring ceremony on May 18.
Forty Fort has announced a parking ban from 7 p.m. Saturday through 9 p.m. Sunday, and residents in other communities are advised to check with their municipalities for similar bans and warnings.
A chilly first
It took 20 years but this storm managed to pull a first: forcing the cancellation of the annual Martin Luther King Speech and Debate Tournament at Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre.
“We had 250 students from other schools ready to compete, but the weather is the weather,” said attorney Kimberly Borland, who has coached the Meyers team for years. Specifically, he cited Gov. Wolf’s declaration of a state of emergency that includes a commercial vehicle ban on all interstates and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Earlier in the week, organizers had already planned to curtail the tournament in response to the looming storm. Borland said one round was removed so that the tournament, which usually runs from 8 a.m. to about 6 p.m., would end around two or three in the afternoon.
This is the first time weather halted the tournament completely. Borland said a snow storm in 2012 prevented most participating schools from getting there, “But we had five or six schools show up, and we had fun.”
Borland said it is not definite, but they are trying to reschedule the tournament, “probably for the spring.”