Schools, county offices closed; hope for warmer weather next week?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The snow flies Thursday morning in Pocopson, where more than nine inches of snow had fallen by 9 a.m. A mix of snow, sleet and rain is expected to continue throughout the day with additional accumulations of 3 to 5 inches.
With more than a foot of snow likely to blanket Chester County, here’s a couple of rules of thumb: if it’s normally open on a Thursday, it’s probably closed, and unless you really need to be out, it’s a good day to stay home.
As of 9 a.m. this morning, snowfall totals around the county were ranging from 8 to 12 inches, with 3 to 5 more inches expected before the storm finally gives out late tonight. Some parts of the county, especially those in the eastern and southern portions, may see a mix of rain and sleet during the middle of the day, according to the National Weather Service. The rain is expected to turn back to all snow by evening, before finally tailing off around midnight.
Road conditions are expected to remain hazardous throughout the day — as road crews work to remove snow from roadways. Rain and ice in parts of the county could lead to extremely slick roadways, so officials are telling motorists to stay off the roads if possible.
PECO is reporting some new power outages in the county, but so far, they are not widespread, totaling 1,476 sites. That number could increase if we see a mix of wind and freezing rain later in the day. As of this morning, one warming center is open: at the Tredyffrin Township Building, 1100 Duportail Road, Berwyn, (610)644-1400. More will be opened if needed, officials said.
Pretty much every school in the county is closed, as are Chester County offices. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has reduced speeds on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other interstate roads in the region.Many state offices — including local Drivers License Centers are also closed Thursday.
Locally, most municipalities have declared a snow emergency — and the resultant restrictions against parking on snow emergency streets.
Local schools, already hit with some of the largest number of snow days in recent history, could be looking at further delays or closures on Friday, depending on when the snow finally ends — and whether or not there is further tree/power line damage.
Some good news is on the horizon on the weather front, as the current long-term forecast calls for spring-like weather next week, as temperatures begin to moderate Tuesday, with temperatures expected to reach into the 50s, Thursday through Saturday.
