It's a common winter equation: snow + sleet + freezing rain = treacherous traveling.

And "treacherous is the weather word," for later tonight and Wednesday morning, according to Eric Horst, Millersville University meteorologist, as Lancaster County residents can expect all three components of the wintry mix overnight.

A storm approaching from the southwest will begin with a hard and fast snowfall beginning in the early evening hours, Horst said, estimating the storm will bring about 2 to 4 inches of snow across Lancaster County.

      AccuWeather Forecast

Those accumulation numbers could be higher in some northern sections of the county, near Brickerville and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Horst said, where up to 5 or 6 inches of snow is possible.

The real problem arises when the precipitation changes — as it's expected to do after midnight — to sleet and freezing rain.

That mix is expected to continue through the morning rush hour, Horst said, with the potential for making streets and sidewalks icy.

"It'll be a real mess," Horst said, "a nasty mess that will make morning traveling dicey."

But as the temperatures rise during the day, the precipitation will eventually turn to just rain in the afternoon, Horst said, making Wednesday a total washout.

Skies are expected to clear and dry out Wednesday night, staying dry for the remainder of the week.

But it is expected to remain very chilly, with daytime highs in the 30s.

And something to look forward to on Sunday besides a Pittsburgh Steelers win in the Super Bowl: Horst said temperatures could reach into the low 40s.

Horst explained that tonight's storm is actually part two of a one-two punch.

Today, between 4 and 8 a.m., about 1 inch of light snow fell across county, just enough for most school districts to issue a two-hour delay to the day's start.

"That was really a precursor," to the second, "bigger storm," expected tonight, Horst said, adding that he anticipates more school delays on Wednesday.

The fast-moving storm was moving through the lower Midwest and Mississippi Valley in the form of damaging ice.

By the time it hits Pennsylvania in the early evening hours, Horst said, it will be snow.

While New York State could see 10 inches of snow, and Williamsport, between 3 to 6 inches of snow, Lancaster County will once again dodge a significant storm and get between 2 to 4 inches of snow. Again, Horst warned, the more northern sections could see an inch or 2 more for totals between 5 and 6 inches.

Soon after midnight, Horst said, that snow will change to sleet and freezing rain. Since temperatures will be below freezing, Horst said, that means slippery traveling in the morning.

"Set your alarm clocks early tomorrow," Horst suggested, and take it nice and slow driving to work and school.


Staff writer Janet Kelley can be reached at jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026. blog comments powered by Disqus