A PennDOT snow plow.

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

Drivers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey counties along the border are being warned to expect dangerous travel conditions as a winter storm moves in overnight into Tuesday, the PA Turnpike Commission and PennDOT announced on Monday, Dec. 1.

Heavy, wet snow is expected to begin late Monday into Tuesday morning, with snowfall rates up to 1 inch per hour and totals reaching 6 inches in some areas, according to the release. Sleet and freezing rain will hit parts of southeast Pennsylvania before turning to all rain, creating hazardous conditions for morning and afternoon commutes on both sides of the Delaware River. Officials strongly urge motorists to delay unnecessary travel.

Crews will pretreat roadways, but icy patches remain likely as temperatures drop. Roads that appear wet may be frozen, particularly on bridges and ramps. Drivers traveling between New Jersey and Pennsylvania should prepare for rapidly changing road conditions.

Vehicle Restrictions

Several major highways commonly used by NJ–PA commuters will face Tier 1 travel restrictions beginning at 5 a.m. Tuesday, including:

  • I-78, entire length
  • I-80 from Lamar to the New Jersey border
  • U.S. 22 from I-78 to the New Jersey border
  • Route 33, entire length

Additional restrictions apply on I-81, I-84, I-180, and the Northeast Extension of I-476, while a Tier 3 ban will take effect on I-380. Restrictions may expand depending on conditions.

Under Tier 1, tractors without trailers, lightly loaded commercial trucks, buses, motorcycles, RVs, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are banned. Tier 3 goes further, barring most commercial vehicles except loaded single trailers equipped with chains or approved traction devices. All restricted corridors will be limited to 45 mph.

Plow Safety

Drivers are urged to use extra caution around snow-removal equipment. Motorists should stay at least six car lengths behind a plow, never pass one, and never travel beside one due to large blind spots. Plow trucks can shift sideways when striking heavy snowpack, and blowing snow can obscure the width of the blade. Headlights must be on any time wipers are in use, as required under Pennsylvania law.

Last Winter’s Numbers

Preliminary data shows Pennsylvania experienced 8,329 crashes, 29 deaths, and 2,959 injuries on snowy or icy roads last winter. Eleven of the people killed were not wearing seatbelts, and 17 fatalities involved drivers traveling too fast for conditions and leaving their lane.

Crash Protocols

State police urge anyone involved in a crash to move vehicles out of travel lanes if they can be driven. Crashes involving injuries or disabled vehicles must be reported to 911. If stuck due to snow or ice, motorists should stay inside their vehicle with seatbelts on and hazard lights activated unless it is unsafe to do so.

Drivers must also remove snow and ice from their vehicles within 24 hours after the storm ends. Violators face a $50 fine, with penalties up to $1,500 if dislodged snow or ice causes serious injury or death.

Travel Resources

Motorists can monitor live road conditions, traffic speeds, cameras, and winter weather impacts on 511PA.com and through the 511PA smartphone app. The PA Turnpike provides updates through its website and social media channels, and Turnpike drivers can report emergencies by dialing *11.