(WBRE/WYOU) — Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for all of northeast and central Pennsylvania from early Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon.
A wintry mix of precipitation impacted northeast and central Pennsylvania Thursday morning with snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
The wintry mix continues to push across northeast and central Pennsylvania Thursday morning. The heaviest precipitation will occur just in time for the morning commute to work and school, so allow extra time if you plan to hit the roadways.
However, there is a common misunderstanding between sleet and freezing rain. To easily remember it, use the phrase: "Sleet pings (and stings) while freezing rain clings."
Sleet bounces off objects while freezing rain instantly freezes onto contact with an object.
Sleet is not to be confused with hail. Hail happens during the summer months within a thunderstorm cloud. Sleet only occurs during the winter months. The column of air must be at or below the freezing mark for a snowflake to fall from the cloud and reach the ground.
For sleet to form, a snowflake will hit a brief pocket of warmer air, then refreeze and bounce on the ground.
For freezing rain, a snowflake melts into a raindrop with a larger layer of warm air on the surface. However, the rain instantly freezes on contact since the ground, roads, and sidewalks can still be at or below the freezing mark.
The wintry mix will taper and give way to a mostly cloudy sky by late morning and early afternoon.
It will be windy at times, which could cause isolated power outages with areas that receive a decent amount of freezing rain.
Temperatures gradually rise to the upper 30s, with our high likely by late evening.
Clouds break up for a clearer sky overnight. It won't be as windy, but breezy from time to time. Lows eventually drop to the upper 20s.
Friday will offer us a mix of clouds and sunshine. It will be windy with highs in the mid 30s. Most of the day Saturday is dry with increasing clouds out ahead of our next winter storm.
Once again, a wintry mix develops Saturday evening and tapers by early Sunday morning. At this point, snow and sleet look like the primary forms of precipitation.
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Monday will be mostly cloudy and quiet with highs in the lower 30s. Another winter storm is possible Tuesday into Wednesday. Details are a bit unclear this far out, but continue to check back for the latest updates!
You can stay current on all the latest weather alerts and track the storm using the Interactive Radar.
