Weather Alert: Blair County and Surrounding Areas
Hey folks, we’ve got some urgent weather updates for Blair County and the surrounding areas. This is for the weekend of Friday-Saturday, January 12-13, 2024. The National Weather Service has provided updated information and it seems we’re in for quite a bit of weather activity.
What’s Happening?
Precipitation is already on its way, moving from southwest to northeast. This is expected to continue over the next several hours. But that’s not all. We’re also expecting snow, heavy at times, especially if you’re north of I-80. Snowfall totals are predicted to range between 2-4”, with local amounts possibly exceeding 5” through 1AM.
Winds and Visibility
Brace yourselves for some strong southeasterly winds gusting between 45 to 60mph across the Laurel Highlands and northern mountains this evening. This combination of heavy, wet snow, snowfall rates of greater than 1” per hour, and strong winds will lead to near-zero visibility and an increased risk of power outages, particularly in northern PA (again, if you’re north of I-80).
After a brief pause in winds overnight, westerly winds will kick in tomorrow across all of Central PA with gusts of 45 to 55mph expected.
Important Changes and Safety Measures
Here’s a key change: the Wind Advisory is now set to begin tonight in southeast Pennsylvania, instead of tomorrow morning. We’ll keep you posted with additional details about the snow, wind, and what to expect after the event.
Remember, safety first folks! Do not touch downed power lines. Report any downed wires to 911 and power outages to your power supplier.
More Information
For more detailed information, graphics and additional weather updates, check out the National Weather Service’s briefing here. You can also visit here or here for more information.
This information is brought to you by the Blair County Department of Emergency Services. Stay safe!
Source: Blair County Department of Emergency Services (Published on: 2024-01-12T23:55:30.000Z)