For week of 1/26/26

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Current Record: 4-2

Prediction:  

LOTS to think about here, but there are some obvious answers.  Main (preliminary) prediction is:

Monday: No School

Tuesday: No School

Wednesday: at least a 2-hour delay, betting on Delay

Thursday: Maybe a delay, but betting No Delay

Friday: Back to normal

Why? 

Well…It’s really looking like we’ll get about 12 inches of snow, and back in 2017 we had a similar storm and had 2 closings and a delay.  People will need time to dig out of a foot of snow. 2 days of plowing should be enough time to get it all cleared, but we typically have a delay after a closing, and it will be pretty cold.

But what would change this outcome?  Many factors:

Drifting snow:  This system will produce a lighter/fluffier snow for most areas, with a transition to heavier snow consistency and increasing wind Sunday afternoon onward.  This means winds will continue to drift the snow across the roads by farm fields for a couple days, though it’s better than having heavy snow on the bottom and the light snow on top.  The more wind and snow, the more delays we’ll have.

Sleet/Freezing Rain: Does it sleet or freezing rain toward the end?  If so, that will limit drifting as it will serve as a cap overtop the fluffy snow to keep it from drifting. 

Temperature/Winds:  It’s gon’ be coooold. And if there’s wind, we can get some below freezing wind chills.  I’m thinking if there’s a -5 wind chill, we’ll delay. If it’s -10 or lower, we’ll close.

Overall, I’m thinking we’ll get about a foot of snow.  Wed/Thurs/Fri predictions will come out as we get closer to those days and see what the factors above tell us.


"Research"

...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING
TO 10 AM EST SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 13 below expected.

* WHERE...Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon,
  Perry, Schuylkill, and York Counties.

* WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...The cold wind chills approaching 15 below zero could
  result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

Frigid temperatures will continue into next week with sub-zero to
potentially dangerous wind chills. Tuesday morning will likely be
the coldest.

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM SATURDAY TO 1 PM EST
MONDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 10
  and 18 inches.

* WHERE...A portion of south-central Pennsylvania.

* WHEN...From 10 PM Saturday to 1 PM EST Monday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread
  and prolonged travel disruptions are expected.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow will overspread the area late Saturday
  evening into Saturday night, becoming heavy at times through
  Sunday with accumulation rates of one to two inches per hour at
  times. Snow may mix with sleet or freezing rain near and south of
  the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Sunday afternoon, which may cut down
  on total snow accumulations. Frigid temperatures and wind chills
  are expected before, during, and after the winter storm. Some
  blowing and drifting snow is possible.
























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