Live updates: What’s closed and what to know after snowstorm hits Centre County
In the first winter storm of the season, Centre County was hit with snow accumulations of more than a foot in most areas, according to the National Weather Service.
A winter storm warning is in effect for the area through 10 a.m. Thursday, though new snowfall is not forecast. The snow started mid-morning Wednesday around the county.
By Wednesday afternoon, emergency responders had been called to a number of weather-related crashes.
“Please stay home and give our road crews time to work,” Spring Township Police Department posted on its Facebook page.
As of 1 a.m. Thursday, 13.5 inches snow had fallen in State College, according to the NWS, and 18.5 inches in Black Moshannon State Park as of 4:30 a.m.
Even before the snow started to fall, some changes, closures and snow emergencies were announced. Here’s the latest:
Snow emergencies
- Patton Township declared a snow emergency effective 3 p.m. Wednesday. All vehicles must be removed from township streets until the snow emergency has ended. Residents and property owners are also reminded that sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours after the snow has stopped.
College Township issued a snow emergency effective 2 p.m. Wednesday. Street parking is not permitted until 48 hours after the storm has ended and the streets have been cleared. All sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours after the storm has ended. And shoveling, blowing or plowing snow onto the streets at any time is a violation. For more information, contact Amy Kerner, Public Works Director, at 231-3021 or via email at akerner@collegetownship.org.
Harris Township declared a snow emergency effective 3 p.m. Wednesday. All vehicles must be removed from public streets prior to 6 p.m. and can not be reparked until 24 hours after the snow has stopped. Residents are advised to wait to repark until receiving notification from the township. Public parking is available in Nittany View, Fasick, Blue Spring and Yoder Preserve parks.
Ferguson Township issued a snow emergency effective noon Wednesday. Residents are required to remove parked vehicles from all township roads for plows to clear the streets. Businesses and residents are reminded to clear sidewalks of snow or ice within 24 hours after the snow has stopped. No snow is to be blown, shoveled or plowed into roadways.
State College Borough declared a snow emergency, in a news release issued at 5 p.m. Wednesday. All parked vehicles must be removed from all public roadways for the public works department to clear and remove snow. Any vehicle left parked on a public roadway may be ticketed and towed. Property owners and residents are also reminded to clear all sidewalks of snow and ice within 24 hours after the snowfall has ended.
Closures and delays
- Schlow Centre Region Library closed at 1 p.m. Wednesday and will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday.
State College Public Works and Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority will delay Thursday’s recycling and refuse pickup to Friday.
College Township could be delayed in removing snow and clearing streets, as the Public Works Department is not currently fully staffed due to COVID-19 infections and/or related protocols. According to a news release, the crew will focus “on priority areas and hills but will follow up on all streets eventually.”
Centre Safe’s offices are closed Wednesday and Thursday. To reach the organization, call 877-234-5050.
Penn State canceled all on-campus activities starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Finals will go on as scheduled, and only employees who perform essential services should report.
Penn State declared a “Midnight Clear” for snow removal Wednesday and Thursday nights. That means parking will be prohibited at all faculty/staff surface parking lots on campus, including Innovation Park, from midnight Wednesday through 7 a.m. Thursday and again midnight Thursday through 7 a.m. Friday. Student and long-term storage parking lots (Lot 22, Lot 42, Lot 81, Lot 82, Lot 83, Brown 11, and Lot 43) are exempt from “Midnight Clear” restrictions and will remain available for those with valid permits. For more info, and for designated areas to park, check out the university’s latest news.
CATA’s Blue Loop stopped operating at 2 p.m. Wednesday. CATABUS Community service and the Red Link will stop at 6 p.m. Wednesday. All service will tentatively resume at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Riders are encouraged to plan to use the service for only essential trips until this time, and to anticipate delays.
CATAGO service servicing Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap and CATARIDE paratransit service ended at noon Wednesday and will resume at noon Thursday. CATA’s Customer Service Center will close at 1 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed Thursday. Service information will remain available by calling CATA at (814) 238-CATA(2282).
The Centre County Courthouse closed at noon Wednesday and will remain closed Thursday. It is scheduled to reopen Friday.
Penn State Health outpatient locations at Colonnade, Park Avenue, Windmere Centre, Benner Pike and Penn State Sports Medicine closed Wednesday at noon and are set to reopen at noon Thursday.
PennDOT’s Driver License Center in Pleasant Gap is closed Thursday.
Centre Daily Times newspaper delivery will be delayed Thursday or, in some cases, Thursdays papers will be delivered on Friday.
Schools
- Bald Eagle Area School District will operate classes Wednesday and Thursday as a Flexible Instruction Day.
- Bellefonte Area School District dismissed schools early on Wednesday and all schools will be closed Thursday.
- Penns Valley Area School District dismissed schools early on Wednesday.
Check back for updates on this story.
This story was originally published December 15, 2020 at 5:54 PM.