Wind rattles bare branches across central Pennsylvania as winter tightens its grip heading into the busiest travel stretch of the holiday.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for State College and surrounding counties, signaling potentially dangerous travel conditions from Friday morning through Saturday morning. Forecasters warn of heavy mixed precipitation, including snow, sleet, and freezing rain, during a critical post-Christmas travel window.
Current conditions remain calm, but changes arrive fast. Temperatures hover near freezing, creating a narrow margin for error as moisture moves in. Snow and sleet accumulations up to two inches are possible, with ice buildup between one-tenth and three-tenths of an inch. That amount of ice can down tree limbs and power lines while turning untreated roads into skating rinks.
Travel impacts could begin early Friday. Freezing rain may coat highways before temperatures rise slightly later in the day. Even then, slick spots may persist in shaded valleys and higher elevations. The Friday morning commute and evening travel face the highest risk.
Saturday does not offer a clean reset. Cloudy skies linger, and cold air holds firm. Any leftover moisture may refreeze after sunset, increasing the chance of black ice on secondary roads, parking lots, and campus walkways.
Meteorologists stress preparation now. Conditions may deteriorate quickly once precipitation begins. To be fair, totals remain uncertain, but the combination of ice and snow is enough to disrupt travel plans across Centre County.
If traveling after Christmas, plan extra time, check road conditions, and consider delaying trips until crews can treat roadways.
Winter is making its move.
📅 Five-Day Outlook — State College, PA
- Today: Mostly sunny. High near 41°F
- Christmas Day: Mostly cloudy. High near 45°F
- Friday: Snow, sleet, freezing rain likely. High near 28°F
- Saturday: Cloudy and cold. High near 36°F
- Sunday: Rain possible. High near 40°F
