Closures, delays and snow emergencies have been announced around Centre County in anticipation of a winter storm overnight Monday into Tuesday morning.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service at State College has issued a winter storm warning from midnight to 11 a.m. Tuesday for southern Centre County and a winter weather advisory from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. for northern Centre County.
Forecasts have varied and changed as the storm tracks east. The most recent NWS notices anticipate 2 to 4 inches of snow in southern Centre County, including the State College area and accumulations up to 2 inches in the northern part of the county.
AccuWeather is forecasting 4 to 8 inches of snow for most of the county, as of 7 p.m. on Monday.
For the State College area, “the heaviest snow will likely fall before dawn, with snow tapering off in most locations by around 8 a.m.,” according to the NWS.
In northern Centre County, “the heaviest snow and worst driving conditions will likely occur during the morning commute,” the advisory stated.
Here’s a look at the effects around the area as of 7 p.m. Monday.
Schools
• Penn State has canceled classes activities and work until 10 a.m. at the University Park campus. Only employees who perform essential services should report.
• State College, Bellefonte, Bald Eagle and Penns Valley school districts are operating on two-hour delays on Tuesday.
• Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District will have a flexible instruction day.
• South Hills School of Business & Technology is operating on a virtual day.
Snow Emergencies
• State College Borough has declared a snow emergency effective at 11 p.m. Monday. All vehicles must be removed from public roadways. Any vehicle remaining on a public road may be ticketed and towed to allow for snow removal. Sidewalks must be cleared of snow and ice within 24 hours after the storm has stopped.
• Harris Township has declared a snow emergency effective at 9 p.m. Monday and all vehicles must be removed from public roads by midnight, when ticketing will begin. Public parking for those without off street parking options is available in Nittany View, Blue Spring and Yoder Preserve parks, which are not typically plowed. The emergency will automatically end 24 hours after the snow has stopped.
• Patton Township has declared snow emergency effective at 11 p.m. Monday. All vehicles must be removed from public roadways or will be subject to ticketing. Sidewalks must be cleared of snow and ice within 24 hours after the storm has stopped.
• Penn State has declared a Midnight Clear at the University Park campus. Parking will be prohibited at all faculty/staff surface parking lots, including Innovation Park, from midnight through 7 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13. Roof levels of all five campus parking decks also will be closed at midnight and are expected to reopen Tuesday morning.
• PennDOT Tier 2 restrictions will be in place beginning at 3 a.m. for the entire length of Interstate 99 and on Interstate 80 from I-79 to Lamar. Under Tier 2, prohibited vehicles include tractors without trailers towing unloaded or lightly loaded trailers, tractors towing loaded tandem trailers without chains or ATDs, unloaded or lightly loaded cargo and box trucks, passenger vehicles towing trailers, RVs, motorcycles and buses.
Closures and Delays
• Residential curbside trash and recycling collection in Benner, College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton Townships is cancelled for Tuesday. All collection will be delayed one day for the rest of the week.
• State College Borough residential refuse and organics collection and curbside recycling collection scheduled for Tuesday is postponed to Friday, Feb. 16. No other collection days will be impacted.
• The Centre County Courthouse and all court offices are closed on Tuesday. Court proceedings scheduled for Tuesday will be rescheduled to a later date.
• Centre County Government offices will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
• Schlow Centre Region Library will open no earlier than noon on Tuesday.
• All Penn State Health facilities will be closed Tuesday morning, with currently scheduled morning appointments taking place virtually via telehealth, where applicable. Facilities will reopen at 1 p.m. when in-person visits and phone hours will resume.
• The following Mount Nittany Health locations and services will open at 1 p.m. Tuesday for in-person patients: Mount Nittany Physician Group practices, lab and imaging services at Mount Nittany Physician Group locations, Sieg Neuroscience Center (sleep studies for Feb. 12 will be rescheduled), Center for Wound Care, including Diabetes Foot Clinic and Orthotics, Pain Management Program, 1850 Building – Radiology, Lab and Sports Medicine, Anticoagulation clinic, Radiation/Oncology Therapy, Mount Nittany Physician Group Blue Course—MRI and Imaging, Bellefonte Corporate Services, courier service and Cancer Care Partnership.
The Medical Center, including outpatient programs, Surgical Center and Breast Care Center will open as scheduled.
