Storm to Continue to Slow Harrisburg Thanksgiving Travel

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

November 26,2013; 5:52PM,EST

 

 

A large storm will negatively impact travel locally around Harrisburg, due mostly to heavy rain and increasing wind, but also another dose of wintry precipitation the tail end.
The storm began as snow, sleet and freezing rain over south-central Pennsylvania Tuesday.
Heavy rain is forecast to fall during the height of the storm Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Enough rain will fall to cause flooding in poor drainage areas. The rain can also continue to freeze on some elevated surfaces.

The combination of rain, poor visibility, low clouds and increasing wind during the middle part of the storm will cause travel delays on the roads and at airports throughout the region.
Motorists are encouraged to slow down to reduce the risk of hydroplaning and allow extra stopping distance between vehicles.
The storm is likely to end as snow Wednesday afternoon and evening. Enough snow can fall to cover the ground and create slippery travel.
In addition, plunging temperatures will cause any untreated wet and slushy areas to freeze Wednesday night.
Gusty winds later Wednesday and Wednesday night will cause any fresh snow that falls to blow around for a while.
Snow totals from the storm will be around an inch around Harrisburg with much higher amounts occurring in the Laurel Mountains to the west and in the Endless Mountains over the northern tier of Pennsylvania.
RELATED:
Detailed Harrisburg Forecast
Harrisburg Interactive Weather Radar
Snowfall Accumulation Map
Thanksgiving Day is forecast to be mostly dry, blustery and cold across the area. However, there can be locally heavy snow showers over the mountains to the west for a time, that can briefly lower the visibility and bring a quick coating on roads.