Weather forecasters are predicting a chance of blinding snow squalls Thursday as an Arctic front is expected to cross the state, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Eric Horst, director of the Weather Information Center at Millersville University, told PennDOT officials Wednesday that he's concerned about some spotty light snow breaking out ahead of the front on Thursday. There's a 40 percent chance of a coating of snow south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
PennDOT is asking drivers to slow down and use caution on the road. The agency offers tips if snow squalls do impact the area:
-- Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions.
-- Turn on the vehicle's headlights.
-- Stay in your lane and increase your following distance.
-- Reduce in-car distractions because your full attention is required.
-- During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely get as far off the road as possible or when there is a safe area to do so.
-- Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could create a chain-reaction collision.
-- Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
Also, don't forget to turn on your vehicle's headlights anytime the windshield wipers are in use. Drivers can be fined if they don't comply with the law.
I got this info in an email yesterday. I edited out some of the background story stuff.
1) How to achieve good vision while driving during a heavy
downpour.
We are not sure why it
is so effective; just
try this method when it rains
heavily. This method was told by a Police
friend who had experienced and confirmed it.
It is useful...even driving at night.
Most of the motorists would turn on HIGH or FASTEST SPEED
of the wipers during heavy downpour, yet the visibility in
front of the windshield is still bad......
In the event you face such a situation,
just try your SUN GLASSES (any model will do), and miracle!
All of a sudden, your visibility in front of your
windshield is perfectly clear, as if
there is no rain.
You can see where the rain bounces off the road.? It
works to eliminate the "blindness" from passing
semi's spraying you too.?
Or the "kickup" if you are following a semi or
car in the rain.?
They ought to teach that little tip in driver's
training.. It really does work.
2) NEVER DRIVE IN THE
RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON.
If the cruise control is on when
your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with the
pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making you
take off like an airplane.
NEVER USETHE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR ICY
NOTE: Some vehicles (like the Toyota Sienna
Limited XLE) will not allow you to set the cruise control
when the windshield wipers are on.
Here's a tip. STAY HOME if it's that bad.