Snow may impact evening commute more than morning, forecasters say

Snowfall Thursday may have a greater impact on the evening commute than in the morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Less than an inch of snow is expected through the morning hours, meteorologist Jason Frazier said. As of about 5:30 a.m., snow was seen sticking primarily to side roads.

PennDOT has closed the Parkway North HOV lanes through the morning rush hour because of the expected inclement weather.

“Due to the colder temperatures and roads being below freezing, any of the snow falling through 10 to 11 a.m. will stick to the ground, so people still need to use caution and take it a bit slower because there could be slick spots,” he said.

The peak time for heavier snow showers to develop will be between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Frazier said. They will pass through any given location quickly, but could briefly produce heavy snow, reduce visibility and quickly accumulate on roadways making them slick.

In total, most of the area will see an average of an inch of snow, while localized areas could see 2 to 3 inches, Frazier said.

It remains cold, with temperatures in the teens but feeling like single digits, said Ashley Dougherty, a meteorologist with TribLive news partner WTAE.

After Thursday, dry weather is expected until late Sunday into Monday, Frazier said. Temperatures will begin to rise, approaching 40 degrees by Sunday, which would be close to the average of 42.