Winter storm expected Sunday
Snow to give way to extreme cold to start next week
The first winter storm of the new year is expected to bring a few inches of snow Sunday night into Monday morning and an extended period of colder temperatures to the area, according to Accuweather senior meteorologist Tom Kines.
“There’s at least a week’s worth of cold weather coming, maybe more,” Kines said.
Daytime high temperatures will likely reach into the 20s, with nighttime lows dipping into the teens or single digits. With the wind blowing, it will feel about 10 to 20 degrees colder than it really is, Kines said.
The winter storm is expected to bring a few inches of snow across Blair County, with the area south of Altoona predicted to get more than the area north.
“Down close to the Maryland border, they’re expected to get eight to 10 inches,” Kines said. “Up to I-80, there’s supposed to be very little snow up there.”
The snow shouldn’t be hard to move around as it’s expected to be light and fluffy, with no ice.
“It’s not a back-breaker for those who have to shovel,” Kines said.
Once the upcoming storm passes through, Kines said “we’re not going to have to worry about any other snow storms coming” for the next few days.
For those more worried about the cold snap than the snow, the Altoona Salvation Army Church at 1813 Sixth Avenue will begin holding regular warming center hours beginning on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., according to outreach coordinator Avery McCall.
While Tuesday is the official start date, McCall said the warming center was open on Friday and “right now, it’s just based on the assessment of the weather.”
McCall said this was their first year having regular hours and they were implemented because of the big need.
“The word hasn’t been spread too much so we get about 10 to 12 people on a daily basis,” McCall said. “As long as the weather is cold, we’ll be open.”
The warming center doesn’t just provide shelter from the cold: it offers food, beverages, showers and recreation such as board games. McCall hopes to have the back half of the building’s basketball court open for use soon as well.
To keep the center operating, the Salvation Army is looking for volunteers and donations.
“We’re currently in need of a washer and dryer,” McCall said. “One of our biggest needs is to be able to launder towels and linens and to be able to launder their clothes while they shower.”
To fill in the gaps, McCall said Overflow Church, 127 Fifth Ave., will have an overnight warming center operated by Ben Blessed starting on Monday.
Also ahead of the wintry conditions, PennDOT and the PA Turnpike are advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm and to exercise caution when driving, according to a release.
Certain vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect during the storm at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Jan. 5 and at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 6. For information on what roadways and vehicles will be affected by these restrictions, go to 511pa.com.
PennDOT crews will pretreat roads to help prevent the formation of ice, but salt does not resolve all risks, and drivers may encounter icy spots on the roadway. Preliminary data from the winter of 2023-24 in Pennsylvania shows that there were 151 crashes resulting in three fatalities and 55 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive-driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors, the release states.
Motorists should also prepare for potential wintry weather by ensuring they have supplies in their cars before heading out: food, water, blankets, extra gloves and hats, cell phone charger, hand or foot warmers, windshield brush and scraper, and any specialized items like medications or baby and pet supplies, according to the release.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.