It begins with rain and ends with snow along with the possibility of ice with the bulk of precipitation falling Saturday afternoon and evening throughout the Ohio Valley and Western PA region. The forecast is calling for strong winds with gusts to 35 mph.
According to Weather.com, the storm system is expected to turn into an all-out blizzard in some areas, with as much as 12 inches in Albany, Boston and Pittsburgh. Areas of northern New England could see as much as 24 inches through Sunday.
The extreme cold sets in Sunday, with highs in the teens and single-digit lows overnight with wind chills below zero.
Ice can be a big challenge not only on the road but on building structures and trees according to on-camera meteorologist Jim Cantore.
“A quarter of an inch can break branches, and once you’re over half an inch, serious problems ensue.”
Among them: Ice missiles that plummet from cell towers, reaching 90 mph before crashing with 1,000 pounds of force; and power lines snapping under the weight of ice and falling trees.
“Ice can increase the weight of the branches by 30 times,”
For those that have bulk fuel tanks, there are never enough reminders during extreme cold weather conditions to make sure you are checking your tanks to avoid opportunities for water and other contaminants to enter your fuel. If water is in your fuel storage tank it can freeze and wreak havoc on your systems.
Fuel filters provide protection to prevent contaminants from passing through to your fleet’s engines. A larger micron fuel filter should not be used to extend filter life or increase flow as it may allow contaminants to flow through to the engine clogging up injectors.
