Full list of impacted roads as officials urge motorists to delay travel

Transportation officials in Ohio and Pennsylvania are urging motorists to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary this weekend as lake effect snow hits the Northeast.

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued a lake effect snow warning for northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania to go into effect at midnight on Thanksgiving. The warning will remain in effect through Saturday morning, with up to 18 inches of snow possible.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) “strongly encourage motorists to heed all travel restrictions and delay unnecessary travel,” according to the warning.

“A multiday lake effect snow event off Lake Erie will begin tonight and bring periodic heavy snow to the region,” the warning issued by the NWS office in Cleveland, Ohio, said. “These heavy lake effect snow bands will bring occasional 1 to 2 inch per hour snowfall rates and poor visibility, as low as one quarter of a mile, which will make travel difficult to impossible, especially along Interstates 90, 86, and 79.”

Winter weather will likely impact Friday morning and evening commutes, as well as any postholiday travel.

“Persons should consider delaying all travel,” the warning said. “If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution. Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded.”

The warning went on to add that lake effect snow can vary in intensity, with bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather a few miles away.

“Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions,” the warning said.

As of Thursday afternoon, roads looked clear ahead of the storm in the Cleveland area. Though once snowfall rates hit 1 to 2 inches per hour, plows won’t be able to keep the roads clear, though ODOT plans to “keep roads passable,” ODOT press secretary Matt Bruning told Newsweek.

PennDOT is planning on temporarily restricting vehicles on interstates in the region ahead of the winter storm, according to a press release issued on Thursday from the department.

Beginning at 1 a.m. local time Friday, Tier 1 vehicle restrictions will go into place for Interstate 90 from the Ohio state line to the New York state line, Interstate 86 from I-90 to the New York state line, and Interstate 79 from Exit 147 (Route 19/Route 322/Route 6/Meadville) to the end of I-79 in Erie County.

Under Tier 1 restrictions, vehicles not permitted on the impacted roads include tractors without trailers; tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers; tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers; enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV; passenger vehicles (cars, SUV’s, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers; recreational vehicles/motorhomes; school buses, commercial buses and motor coaches; and motorcycles.

Early Friday morning, restrictions will be upgraded to Tier 4, which includes all commercial vehicles. Currently, a Tier 5, which includes all passenger vehicles, is not planned.

“The safety of the traveling public remains our top priority, and we encourage motorists to limit any unnecessary travel,” PennDOT Safety Press Officer Saxon Daugherty told Newsweek.