For once, it appears northwestern Pennsylvania may be getting spared from the worst of winter’s fury.
Much of the rest of Pennsylva-nia, however, braced for the second big storm of the season Friday, as crews salted thousands of miles of roads, schools dismissed early and at least one airline canceled flights in anticipation of a foot or more of snow.
Forecasters called for heavy
snow to start falling across the more southern parts of the state Friday afternoon and into the evening, with 8 to 14 inches anticipated in Pittsburgh and 6 to 12 inches expected in the Philadelphia area.
So if you’re thinking about doing some traveling this weekend, “don’t go south — it’s as simple as that,” said WICU 12 Chief Meteorologist and Trib-une forecaster Rob Wilson.
The National Weather Service’s Cleveland office on Friday issued a winter weather advisory — effective through noon today — for areas immediately south and southeast of Crawford County, including Mercer, Venango and Forest counties. Wilson said only about two or three inches are expected to fall in the Meadville area.
Southwest Airlines canceled flights out of Philadelphia International Airport from Friday afternoon into today. Other flights were booked as people tried to get out before the snow.
Ronald and Carole Weather-ford, of High Point, N.C., were waiting to fly back to Greensboro, N.C., after the book fair they flew up for was canceled. They feared that staying in Philadelphia until Sunday, as they originally planned, could leave them stranded.
The couple didn’t want to get stuck in an airport hotel during a trip scheduled to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
“The weather was very much like this 25 years ago,” said Carole Weatherford, noting that it rained, sleeted and snowed on their wedding day, Feb. 2, 1985, in Baltimore.
Spokeswoman Victoria Lupica said the airport had no plans to close. About 400 workers are ready to do snow removal, she said.
Shawn Reid, 39, of northeast Philadelphia, was sitting at the airport after his flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was overbooked. Trying to get to a Super Bowl party with friends, he failed in several attempts to find another flight to any city even close to Miami — Tampa, Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Orlando and even Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
“It was like everything was oversold. Because of the storm, everyone is trying to get out early,” said Reid, as he waited for a ride to take him back home. “I’m very depressed.”
Pittsburgh International Airport also planned to remain open, Allegheny County Airport Authority spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny said.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation trucks have been treating major roadways with a salt brine and will begin spreading granular salt when the snow starts to fall.
“We’ve got more than 2,200 trucks, plows and salt spreaders that are available all around the state,” PennDOT spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick said.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said it’s in constant communication with counties via electronic message boards and conference calls to marshal resources if local officials report any problems.
Local News
Region braces for winter blast
- Local News
-
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
During the past five years, Moody’s Investors Service has assigned three different ratings — all within the range of “upper medium grade” to the City of Meadville’s bonds. In 2007, the city was given a rating of A3, the lowest of the trio. In 2010, the city’s bond rating was raised to A1, the highest ranking in the “upper medium” category. Monday, Moody’s gave the city’s $10,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2012, which went on the market Monday, the middle rating of A2.
-
Elderly, disabled and their caregivers have tremendous new local resource
The new Crawford County Link isn’t a place, but an information network to help people age 60 and older or those between 18 and 59 with disabilities stay living independently.
-
County's median age rising as population still stable
Crawford Countians are growing older and aging in place.
-
Crawford Central yearlong pay freeze plan fails
Differences over details have derailed a contract featuring a one-year pay freeze for Crawford Central School district teachers, leaving district administrators looking for ways to close an unexpectedly large 2012-13 budget gap.
-
Saegertown singer has date with CMT
A Saegertown man will appear on the Country Music Television (CMT) show “Singing Bee” on June 1 at 8 and 11 p.m.
-
Court ruling means county politicking can continue
A proposed resolution to limit Crawford County employees from serving as a chair or vice chair of a political party can’t be enacted because of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in a Montgomery County case.
-
Officials: Rape suspect kills himself before trial
A Crawford County jail inmate died at an Erie hospital early Saturday morning in the wake of an apparent suicide attempt, according to county officials.
-
Cambridge radio station offers soundtrack of local music scene
Lately, “I’ve been having a heavy-duty highlight on local artists every other hour,” Sam Reese said as he sat at the controls of WXCS 92.9 recently, queuing up the current block of tunes lined up for play.
- NEW LOCAL: Crawford County jail inmate dies at Erie hospital
- NEW LOCAL: Fire destroys Cambridge Springs area barn and dairy herd
- More Local News Headlines
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Remains of Veterans Found in Basement Are Buried
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Serial Stabbings Suspect Guilty of Murder
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
A Few Odd Business Sparks but Europe Gloomy
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
Gerard Butler: the Good, the Bad and the Cannes
At Least 25 Dead in India Train Collision
Raw Video: Private Rocket Blasts Off
Boy to Rescuers: 'Do You Have a Plan?'
Doctors and Devotees Debate Barefoot Running
Blacks Seek to Find Their Own Missing
Houston Museum Unveils $85 Million Dinosaur Hall
