A winter storm headed toward Centre County on Wednesday is causing closings, cancelations, parking restrictions and travel impacts.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from late Tuesday night through Wednesday evening for portions of central Pennsylvania, including all of Centre County. According to AccuWeather, 3 to 6 inches of snow is anticipated in the State College area. Light snow is expected to begin around daybreak before changing to heavier snow and, later, into sleet, freezing rain or rain in the afternoon and evening.
Here’s a look at the impacts. This list will be updated.
SCHOOLS
• Penn State has canceled in-person classes and activities at University Park from 5 a.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday. Only employees identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations should report to campus as directed.
• State College Area School District is closed on Wednesday.
• Bald Eagle Area School District has a flexible instruction day.
• Bellefonte Area School District has a flexible instruction day.
• Penns Valley Area School District has a flexible instruction day.
• Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District has a flexible instruction day.
• South Hills School of Business and Technology is operating virtually.
OTHER CLOSINGS AND SCHEDULE CHANGES
• Centre County Court and and court offices are closed on Wednesday. Court proceedings will be rescheduled to a later date. Central Court preliminary hearings will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, when the court will resume normal operating hours.
• Penn State Health State College locations are operating on virtual visits only on Wednesday. Procedures previously scheduled for Wednesday will be rescheduled. Penn State Health will contact impacted patients to reschedule procedures.
• The following Mount Nittany Health locations and services will open at 1 p.m. on Wednesday: Physician Group practices, Sieg Neuroscience Center and Sleep Lab, Center for Wound Care, Diabetes Foot Clinic and Orthotics, Pain Management Program, Radiation/Oncology Therapy, Breast Care Center, Speech Therapy and the Anticoagulation Clinic.
The Cancer Care Partnership is closed.
Mount Nittany Health Surgical Center, Mount Nittany Medical Center and Medical Center outpatient programs cardiac/pulmonary rehab and medical treatment unit remain open.
• Centre Volunteers in Medicine is closed.
• Schlow Centre Region Library is closed. The virtual Well-Read Book Club will still meet at 7 p.m. and online services remain available.
• Non-essential Ferguson Township municipal administrative offices will be closed to the public at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and are scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday.
• The Patton Township Board of Supervisors meeting scheduled for Wednesday has been rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
• Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority recycling crews will begin curbside collection at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
• Curbside refuse and recycling collection in Benner, College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton townships will begin at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC
• Ferguson Township reminds residents that vehicles may not be parked on township streets when snow accumulations reach 2 inches or greater.
• Harris Township has declared a snow emergency. Parked vehicles must be moved from township streets by 8 a.m., when ticketing will begin. Public parking for those without off-street parking options is available in Nittany View, Blue Spring and Yoder Preserve parks.
• Patton Township has declared a snow emergency effective at 5 a.m. on Wednesday. All parked vehicles must be removed from township streets until the snow emergency has been lifted.
• Penn State has declared a midnight clear for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Parking is prohibited at all faculty/staff surface parking lots on campus, including Innovation Park, from midnight Tuesday night through 7 a.m. Wednesday morning and from midnight Wednesday night through 7 a.m. Thursday morning. The roof levels of all five campus parking decks (East, Eisenhower, HUB, Nittany and West) will close Tuesday evening at 5 p.m.
• Tier 1 vehicle restrictions will be in place on several interstates throughout Pennsylvania on Wednesday, according to PennDOT. Through Centre County, restrictions will go into effect at 6 a.m. for I-80 and I-99. Tier 1 restrictions prohibit tractors without trailers, lightly loaded trailers or unloaded trails; enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV; passenger vehicles towing trailers; RVs/motorhomes; buses; and motorcycles.
Matt DiSanto contributed to this report.
