Winter Weather On Its Way
By: Jim Madalinsky
Updated: December 21, 2012
CRESSON, CAMBRIA COUNTY - With large amounts of snow set to fall on portions of the Laurel Highlands, PennDOT would like to be out prepping the roads, but Thursday's rain put those plans on hold.
"If there was no rain before snow we could actually go out and do some pre-treating work today, but since its going to rain or they're calling for rain, that would just wash away all the salt-drying product we would put down," Penndot Spokesperson Tara Callahan-Henry says.
Still the Department of Transportation says there are steps you can take before the storm that might save you some trouble if you're traveling for the holidays.
"You want to check your vehicle, make sure everything is in proper working order, your fluid levels are full and your wipers are in working order. It's better to do that before a storm than during a storm," Callahan-Henry says.
While this weekend's storm is expected to bring enough snow to put rock salt to good use, people in Somerset aren't flocking to their local hardware store, in fact most have been prepared for this type of weather for months.
"Everybody around here buys their winter stuff at the end of October, beginning of November and if it's mild it lasts and if it's not it goes real quick and we can sell a lot more of it," SDC Sales Manager Don Hetrick says.
Hetrick has lived in the Central PA region his entire life and he says anytime there's heavy snow, the most obvious answer is usually the right one.
"Just like the state tells you, if you don't have to go out, don't. Stay at home it's safer," Hetrick says.
The timing of this winter storm isn't good as a lot of people are set to hit the road for the holidays this weekend, and the message hasn't changed over the years. Slow down, leave a little extra space and hopefully you can avoid a bad start to your holiday.
"If there was no rain before snow we could actually go out and do some pre-treating work today, but since its going to rain or they're calling for rain, that would just wash away all the salt-drying product we would put down," Penndot Spokesperson Tara Callahan-Henry says.
Still the Department of Transportation says there are steps you can take before the storm that might save you some trouble if you're traveling for the holidays.
"You want to check your vehicle, make sure everything is in proper working order, your fluid levels are full and your wipers are in working order. It's better to do that before a storm than during a storm," Callahan-Henry says.
While this weekend's storm is expected to bring enough snow to put rock salt to good use, people in Somerset aren't flocking to their local hardware store, in fact most have been prepared for this type of weather for months.
"Everybody around here buys their winter stuff at the end of October, beginning of November and if it's mild it lasts and if it's not it goes real quick and we can sell a lot more of it," SDC Sales Manager Don Hetrick says.
Hetrick has lived in the Central PA region his entire life and he says anytime there's heavy snow, the most obvious answer is usually the right one.
"Just like the state tells you, if you don't have to go out, don't. Stay at home it's safer," Hetrick says.
The timing of this winter storm isn't good as a lot of people are set to hit the road for the holidays this weekend, and the message hasn't changed over the years. Slow down, leave a little extra space and hopefully you can avoid a bad start to your holiday.
