HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania officials are announcing restrictions on some interstates will take effect overnight Monday into Tuesday as a significant winter storm is forecast.
PennDOT is banning commercial vehicles at midnight on Interstate 70 from the Maryland line north to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
That’s when it’ll also ban commercial vehicles on Interstate 99 from Interstate 80 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Certain vehicles won’t be allowed on the turnpike between the New Stanton and Carlisle exits.
As of midnight, that stretch won’t permit double trailers, empty trailers, motorcycles and recreational vehicles, and other types of vehicles.
At 6 a.m. Tuesday, PennDOT and the turnpike will prohibit commercial vehicles on long sections of interstate in eastern and central Pennsylvania. There also will be speed restrictions.
In Philadelphia, forecasts are calling for 1 to 3 inches of snow in and around the city, followed by ice through the morning commuting hours and perhaps a daylong icy lacquering farther to the north and west.
“It definitely could be ugly across the region,” said Nicholas Carr, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly.
Snow overnight is expected to mix with sleet and then change to rain and freezing rain during the day Tuesday. But with temperatures near 32, forecasters warned that north and west of Philadelphia, it could be a close call between liquid rain and ice.
The remnants of cold high pressure have added a dangerous element of stubbornness to cold air at the surface.
“It’s going to be like pulling teeth to get temperatures above freezing,” said Dave Dombek, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather Inc.
Details are available at www.511pa.com.
