PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Projections for snow have slithered away from most of the greater Philadelphia region but will still accumulate in parts of the Lehigh Valley.
Rain and sleet are in our forecast now, for the most part, but whatever Mother Nature decides to bring our way, PennDOT crews are poised at the ready.
If rain comes before the snow, crews won't pre-treat the roads.
"Because anything we would put down would be washed away," said PennDOT spokesperson Brad Rudolph. "If it's rain, we will likely wait for that rain to turn to snow."
PennDOT has plenty of salt and plow trucks whenever the weather warrants them. It has 130,000 tons of salt — 36 stockpiles across five counties. There are 180 state trucks available, and up to 260 contractor trucks can be called, if needed.
NJDOT and DelawareDOT are also prepared to deal with snow and ice removal operations.
Transportation officials advise drivers to be cautious during inclement weather by:
— Reducing your speed
— Clearing off snow or ice from your car before heading out
— Turning headlights on when using windshield wipers
— Giving crews plenty of room to do their jobs
— Being careful on elevated surfaces, like highway on- and off-ramps and bridges, which tend to freeze before roadways
"Try not to pass anyone," Rudolph advised. "Those plow blades are wider than the vehicle, so give them the space that they need."
The last time Philadelphia saw measurable snowfall — more than an inch — was more than 700 days ago.
