Today's messy weather - snow in the morning and freezing rain in the afternoon - will give way to unseasonably warm temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Sometime during the late morning or early afternoon, snow will turn over into more of a wintry mix, with freezing rain or sleet," said Elyse Colbert, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's State College bureau. "We'll have highs in the mid- to upper-30s (today), so it'll be right around the point where you have changeover."
A trace of ice might accumulate this afternoon, Colbert said, showers will continue overnight, and some refreezing of precipitation might occur on roads.
Article Photos
RASHELLE CAREY/Sun-Gazette
An unidentified man hurries out of the icy West Branch of the Susquehanna River on Saturday during the polar bear plunge. Today, drivers may have to deal with ice on their vehicles and on the roads.
On Tuesday, highs will approach 50 degrees, with a 40-percent chance of scattered showers. On Wednesday, the high temperature will be in the mid-50s, with a 70-percent chance of showers and up to a half-inch of rain in some areas.
"The average temperature at this time of year is about 33, 34 degrees, so we'll be well above average for Tuesday and for Wednesday as well," Colbert said. "We'll cool down again on Thursday and Friday, with highs in the mid- to upper 30s Thursday and a high in the mid-20s Friday. There's just a chance of some snow showers and flurries both of those days."
Partly sunny skies are expected Saturday, with highs in the mid-20s.
"Definitely, with the warmer temperatures, you're going to see some snowpack melting," Colbert said. "The river forecast for Wednesday morning has it rising about a foot, but it's still so far below flood levels that it's going to be up to about 4 feet, probably somewhat lower."
