Delco endures another wet and sloppy winter storm
A multifaceted winter storm brought traffic-snarling snow, wind and ice to the northeastern United States Tuesday, according to Accuweather.com.
The storm began as an icy mix in the mid-Atlantic and snow in the central Appalachians on Monday and Monday night.
Parts of southern Pennsylvania and northern Maryland received 3-6 inches of snow before precipitation changed to an icy mix.
The wintry mix may not have left much on sidewalks and roads, but it was enough to bring caution to area commuters and close all public schools Tuesday.
After some school closures were announced for Monday following .25 inches that head fell just before daybreak, all schools shuttered when another 2 inches was expected to fall before daybreak on Tuesday with freezing rain and icy conditions expected to linger as the day progressed.
Less than 1 inch of total precipitation had fallen at the Philadelphia International Airport according to the National Weather Service from late Sunday to early Tuesday morning, with almost an inch of rain expected to fall as the temperatures started to push the upper-30s through Wednesday morning.
Snow continued to spread northeastward over much of New York and New England on Tuesday while freezing rain and sleet fall across southern New York, eastern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland and New Jersey.
PennDOT on Monday had already had certain commercial vehicle bans in place for a number of state highways and interstates across the county, including those in the Philadelphia area. As of 1 p.m. Tuesday and vehicle restrictions imposed on
I-76, I-95, I-476, and I-676 were lifted, but restrictions on the Northeast Extension
(I-476) from the mid-county tolls to Lehigh Valley remained for empty, straight CDL-weighted trucks; all Large Combination Vehicles (double trailers); tractors hauling empty trailers; any trailers pulled by motorcycles, passenger vehicles, pickup trucks or SUVs; all motorcycles; and all recreational vehicles and RVs.
Things are forecasted to look up Wednesday when the rain and all other forms of precipitation looks to clear out before the morning rush hour. Temperatures will reach a high of approximately 40 degrees, but it will be blustery with wind gusts whipping up over 30 mph, according to the National Weather Service.