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State of emergency declared in Pennsylvania amid winter storm forecasts

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UPDATE:

Winter storm warning issued for central Pa.

The National Weather Service in State College issued a Winter Storm Warning this afternoon that will be in effect from 7 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Sunday in Franklin, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, Adams, York and Lancaster counties.

Gov. Tom Wolf has declared Pennsylvania in a state of emergency ahead of a snow storm slated to hit the region as the weekend nears.

The declaration allows officials to use state resources to combat adverse weather conditions where necessary, he said.

"Multiple state agencies are working at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to monitor weather conditions across the state and we will respond to help local governments and residents in need," Wolf said in a statement.

Here are all the winter weather tips for driving, health, safety and more that you'll probably ever need.

The statement goes on to read:

"The proclamation authorizes state agencies to use all available resources and personnel, as necessary, to cope with the magnitude and severity of the situation. The time-consuming bid and contract procedures, as well as other formalities normally prescribed by law, are waived for the duration of the proclamation. The State Emergency Operations Center, located at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency headquarters outside Harrisburg, is staffed by personnel from multiple state agencies."

Forecasters have not yet agreed on the amount of snow slated to hit the midstate this weekend, but area officials have also begun to declare states of emergencies in local townships and boroughs amid forecasts calling for about a foot of snow to fall across much of south-central Pennsylvania.

Generally speaking, areas south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike are expected to receive the most snow, while areas north of Harrisburg will see less snow.

Issued snow emergencies include:

  • The York County Board of Commissioners
  • Harrisburg
  • York
  • Lebanon
  • North Lebanon Township
  • Upper Allen Township
  • Strasburg
  • Strasburg Township
  • Carroll Township
  • South Londonderry Township
  • North Londonderry Township
  • Mechanicsburg
  • Fairview Township
  • Steelton
  • Columbia
  • Newberry Township
  • Middletown
  • Palmyra
  • Shippensburg
  • Conewago Township
  • West Manheim Township
  • Spring Garden Township
  • West York
  • Windsor Township
  • East Manchester Township
  • Jackson Township
  • Dover Township
  • Spring Grove
  • Hallam
  • Elizabethtown
  • Hopewell Township
  • Chanceford Township
  • West Manchester Township

While the amount of snow we will be getting this weekend is uncertain, cancellations are starting to come in.

Editor's note: This post will be updated as information is received.

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