Don't put away that snow shovel yet.
After the region was pounded with an extra-heavy snow-sleet combination Wednesday, another round of snow is headed this way and expected to start before sunrise Saturday.
"You could have 2 to 3 inches," said Charles Ross, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College.
The holiday forecast from the weather service indicates a bitter New Year's Eve, with temperatures dropping to 19 degrees.
New Year's Day may include yet another round of snow showers, with a high reaching 28 degrees.
Wednesday's mixture of snow, ice and freezing rain led to an accumulation of 8 inches of heavy, wet snow in the city and higher accumulations in areas in northern parts of the county. As much as 15 inches fell in Coudersport in Potter County, Ross said.
The weight of the snow and miles of uncleared alleys, where some residents live and others park their vehicles in garages, caused inconvenience for those trying to get out of them.
The alleyway problem was a hassle for city Streets and Parks Department personnel.
"We've got 50 miles of alleys," said William C. Wright, general manager of the department.
Wright said he promised most of the alleys would be cleared today, but said he had to order the use of two department-owned tractors equipped with V-shaped plows because of the weight of the snow.
The next round of snow likely will add to the problem.
"The snow is so heavy we couldn't use the pickup trucks in the alleys," Wright said.
The storm caused instant poor conditions on the roads and Wright said he asked union personnel to cut their holiday vacations short to operate plow trucks.
"I had to bring people in who were on vacation," Wright said.
He said he kept employees on around the clock because he started to lose them when some became too tired.
River Valley Transit sent out extra buses in order to maintain its 30-minute schedule for picking up passengers, said William E. Nichols Jr., department general manager.
The weight of the snow apparently had some people frustrated and throwing snow in some streets, Wright said.
By city snow removal ordinance, they are not to not throw the snow in the street, he said.
"It will melt just as fast if they pile it up along the curbline rather than throwing it back into the street," Wright said.
Codes administrator Joe Gerardi said one of the major problems he encountered is keeping sidewalks clear. People who live on a corner must keep the intersection clear for those who require handicapped accessibility, he said.
"If you own a corner lot, you need to shovel open the space at both ends to allow those in wheelchairs or with special needs to cross the street in either direction," he said.
According to a previous Sun-Gazette story, the city ordinance says sidewalks must be clear 24 hours after the snow stops.
Girardi also suggested residents to their part to clear snow and ice if it is covering a fire hydrant. The firefighters check to clear the hydrants of the snow, but for them to do every hydrant in the city takes time.
