Rain, freeze could result in icy roads

There is good and bad news for the millions who will be taking to the roads and skies over the holidays, with gas prices at their lowest level in 18 months, but the coldest Christmas forecast in decades is expected to chill travelers, possibly disrupt flights and likely bring icy roads to the region Friday.

Those who are going to be out and about in the coming days should bundle up first and check the latest forecasts before departing because there could be a number of hazardous and disruptive weather impacts in the Northeast in the days leading up to Christmas, AccuWeather meteorologists said.

About an inch of rain is expected today, with an additional quarter-inch and wind gusts of 47 mph Friday, forecasters said.

Any rain or snow that falls before the start of the holiday weekend is at risk of rapidly freezing — possibly within minutes — and bringing treacherous conditions for traveling and walking, AccuWeather said.

The 24-hour temperature drop from Friday to Saturday could rival records, meteorologists said.

“In Harrisburg, that temperature drop could be 45 degrees or more,” AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse Ferrell said. “The record (for greatest temperature dip within 24 hours) is 48 degrees set in both 1981 and 1978.”

It is possible some neighborhoods may face extended power outages through the Christmas weekend, and some homes could lose their primary source of heat, as crews may struggle to restore all downed power lines in a timely manner because of the anticipated extreme conditions, AccuWeather said.

The weather forecast

for the Reading area is for rain mixed with some snow today, then temperatures Friday to reach 50 before plummeting to 9 with heavy winds as the day goes on, according to AccuWeather.

The cold temperatures should stick around for a few days, with Christmas being dry but with a high of only 25 degrees.

Beginning Tuesday a slight warmup should start, with temperatures nearing 50 again by New Year’s Day.

Cold weather tips

Whether traveling or staying home for Christmas, people should be careful in the bitter cold on its way, said Dr. Blake Bailey, Vice Chair of Reading Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine.

Frostbite is a serious threat to those who spend too much time outdoors or aren’t properly dressed for such temperatures, he said, and each year the emergency department treats such cases.

Those who are driving should get ready for the possibility of their vehicle breaking down or getting stuck in bad weather by having blankets and warm clothing on hand, he said.

“You should be preparing for the worst,” he said. “You never know what might happen.”

And as winter progresses and snow arrives, everyone

should be careful not to overdo it when shoveling, and be cautious around snowblowers, he said.

Each year the hospital treats people who experience heart problems while shoveling snow, and some who injure their fingers and hands trying to unclog snow from the blades of snowblowers, he said.

Older people should be especially careful in the cold and snow, since they are most prone to experience health problems in the winter, he said.

“Make sure you dress in layers, and don’t be out too long without warming up,” he said.

At the pump

Close to 113 million people will journey 50 miles or more from home between Friday and Jan. 2, an increase of 3.6 million people from last year and closing in on pre-pandemic numbers, according to AAA.

This year is expected to be the third busiest year for holiday travel since AAA began tracking in 2000.

“This year travel time will be extended due to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on Sundays,” said Paula Twidale, AAA senior vice president of travel. “With hybrid work schedules, we are seeing more people take long weekends to travel because they can work remotely at their destination and be more flexible with the days they depart and return.”

The nearly 102 million expected to drive to their holiday destinations will get a break at the pumps with the national average for a gallon of regular gas at $3.11 on Wednesday, according to AAA, down almost $2 since the all-time high of just over $5 in June and now at its lowest level since the summer of 2021.

GasBuddy predicts the national average will be $2.98 on Christmas Day, having fallen in all 50 states since October.

In Pennsylvania, the average was $3.64 on Wednesday, with Berks County a nickel lower at $3.59.

In Montgomery County the average was $3.50, in Delaware County it was $3.48, in Chester County it was $3.47, in Lehigh County it was $3.49 and in Schuylkill County it was $3.60.

Traveling

Air travel will see a 14% increase this holiday over last year, with nearly 7.2 million Americans expected to fly, AAA said.

Flights and airports will be packed to a point reminiscent of pre-pandemic days despite higher airline ticket prices, said AAA, which expects the number of people taking holiday flights this year to come close to matching 2019 when 7.3 million Americans traveled by air.

Other modes of transportation are also rebounding, said AAA, estimating that travel by bus, rail, and cruise ship will rise to 3.6 million this holiday season, a 23% increase from last year and nearly 94% of 2019’s pre-pandemic volume.

Transportation analytics firm INRIX expects the most congested days on the road to be Friday, Christmas, Dec. 27 and 28, and Jan. 2, with increased travel times likely those days.

BILL UHRICH — READING EAGLE Traffic flows easily on Route 100 looking south from Route 73in Boyertown. That is not expected to be the case later this week as holiday travelers hit the roads and rain and ice are forecast for the area.