UPDATE:
As each hour goes by it looks like the chances of seeing any type of significant snow is fading.
But this is the time of the year the state needs to be ready for anything that Mother Nature may throw at us.
This storm is thankfully not even a distant cousin to Sandy and as the storm tracks further to the east, New England is getting hit hard.
In Lancaster County, the weather at times is miserable with the cold, wind and snow, but chances are conditions are not bad enough to close schools Thursday. PennDOT is ready, which means this may actually end up being a good test run for what is to come.
Snow removal in Pennsylvania is big business.
“Budgeted for this winter statewide is $188 million,” explained PennDOT District 8 spokesman Mike Crochunis. “Last year we had a pretty mild winter and this year we expect average, nothing out of the ordinary.”
Early Wednesday evening, an injury accident on Maclay Street in Harrisburg. Those serious accidents is what PennDOT wants to help avoid with 700,000 tons of salt ready to help keep the state moving.
The mild winter that we had last year saved the state millions of dollars in snow removal costs, but the dynamics are not setting up for a repeat performance this winter.
Wednesday night the trucks have been on the road in Lancaster County.
“We currently have all 52 department trucks patrolling the roadways looking for any trouble spots,” stated Assistant Highway Maintenance Manager Rick Ferguson.
While Wednesday afternoon and now into evening there was not much action at salt domes in either Harrisburg or Lancaster, Mother Nature could always change that.
“There is a little bit of snow in the eastern end of the county and southern end of the county, nothing that is laying on the roadways,” Ferguson told us.
PennDOT is also prepared in Harrisburg, just in case.
“So if we do dip down in the lower 30s, we may have some icing conditions and we will treat the roads as necessary,” Crochunis told us before we traveled to Lancaster.
In Harrisburg the Department of Public Works reports they are ready to handle for up to three inches of overnight snow, but that is not going to happen.
For snow lovers Wednesday night may be a tease, so you will have to keep waiting for the season's first big blast!
___________________________________________
At least it didn't come as early as last year's October snow, but could the first flakes of the season soon be falling? And Is the state ready?
This storm is thankfully no Sandy, as the storm tracks further to east it look like New England will be the hardest hit area, but what it means for us is cold air and maybe some snow.
Snow removal in Pennsylvania is big business.
Mike Crochunis, PennDOT District 8 Spokesperson says that the state is prepared for snow storms this winter. "Budgeted for this winter statewide is 188 million dollars. Last year we had a pretty mild winter and this year we expect average, nothing out of the ordinary."
Crochunis says they aren't as worried about the storm this week because it will only effect part of the Susquehanna Valley. "This one should effect Lancaster, Berks, and southeastern York counties."
Right now it is quiet in the Susquehanna Valley, but that could change as we go through the overnight.
In Harrisburg the Department of Public Works reports they are ready for up to 3" of snow overnight and have their preparations complete with plenty of salt and spreader boxes on snow removal equipment.
As each hour goes by it looks like the chances of seeing any type of significant snow is fading.
But this is the time of the year the state needs to be ready for anything that Mother Nature may throw at us.
This storm is thankfully not even a distant cousin to Sandy and as the storm tracks further to the east, New England is getting hit hard.
In Lancaster County, the weather at times is miserable with the cold, wind and snow, but chances are conditions are not bad enough to close schools Thursday. PennDOT is ready, which means this may actually end up being a good test run for what is to come.
Snow removal in Pennsylvania is big business.
“Budgeted for this winter statewide is $188 million,” explained PennDOT District 8 spokesman Mike Crochunis. “Last year we had a pretty mild winter and this year we expect average, nothing out of the ordinary.”
Early Wednesday evening, an injury accident on Maclay Street in Harrisburg. Those serious accidents is what PennDOT wants to help avoid with 700,000 tons of salt ready to help keep the state moving.
The mild winter that we had last year saved the state millions of dollars in snow removal costs, but the dynamics are not setting up for a repeat performance this winter.
Wednesday night the trucks have been on the road in Lancaster County.
“We currently have all 52 department trucks patrolling the roadways looking for any trouble spots,” stated Assistant Highway Maintenance Manager Rick Ferguson.
While Wednesday afternoon and now into evening there was not much action at salt domes in either Harrisburg or Lancaster, Mother Nature could always change that.
“There is a little bit of snow in the eastern end of the county and southern end of the county, nothing that is laying on the roadways,” Ferguson told us.
PennDOT is also prepared in Harrisburg, just in case.
“So if we do dip down in the lower 30s, we may have some icing conditions and we will treat the roads as necessary,” Crochunis told us before we traveled to Lancaster.
In Harrisburg the Department of Public Works reports they are ready to handle for up to three inches of overnight snow, but that is not going to happen.
For snow lovers Wednesday night may be a tease, so you will have to keep waiting for the season's first big blast!
___________________________________________
At least it didn't come as early as last year's October snow, but could the first flakes of the season soon be falling? And Is the state ready?
This storm is thankfully no Sandy, as the storm tracks further to east it look like New England will be the hardest hit area, but what it means for us is cold air and maybe some snow.
Snow removal in Pennsylvania is big business.
Mike Crochunis, PennDOT District 8 Spokesperson says that the state is prepared for snow storms this winter. "Budgeted for this winter statewide is 188 million dollars. Last year we had a pretty mild winter and this year we expect average, nothing out of the ordinary."
Crochunis says they aren't as worried about the storm this week because it will only effect part of the Susquehanna Valley. "This one should effect Lancaster, Berks, and southeastern York counties."
Right now it is quiet in the Susquehanna Valley, but that could change as we go through the overnight.
In Harrisburg the Department of Public Works reports they are ready for up to 3" of snow overnight and have their preparations complete with plenty of salt and spreader boxes on snow removal equipment.