WEATHER ALERT: Speed Restrictions As Snow, Ice Hit Pennsylvania

By Tom Davis:

Welcome to the first real snowstorm of 2015.

Winter Storm Iola brought as many as eight inches of snow, and plenty of ice, to New Jersey and Pennsylvania on Saturday as accidents littered major highways and speed restrictions were imposed to slow down drivers on the slick roads.

Accuweather reports that snow was still falling in parts of eastern Pennsylvania as of 8 a.m. Saturday.

There will be a few hours of icy patches before the temperatures warm above freezing on Saturday. Thereafter, the rain will lighten up during Saturday afternoon and taper off towards evening as snow showers or a wintry mix, according to the National Weather Service.

Watch for a re-freeze on Saturday night.

The storm had the following impacts:

• There were 25 mph speed restrictions on the Walt Whitman Bridge, Ben Franklin Bridge, Betsy Ross Bridge and Commodore Barry Bridge between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
• There was a 50-mph speed restriction on the Garden State Parkway in both directions early Saturday from Cape May to north of Exit 114 in Holmdel, and a 45-mph speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike from the Delaware Memorial Bridge to north Exit 8A in South Brunswick.

The snow fell at a rate of an inch-per-hour at times in most of Pennsylvania before mixing with sleet and a period of freezing rain prior to daybreak, according to police.

The National Weather Service has issued a “Winter Weather Advisory,” in effect from 9 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday, for snow and freezing rain covering nearly all of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

The National Weather Service also issued a “Hazardous Weather Outlook,” saying a ”significant coastal storm” will to track up the East Coast Friday night and through Saturday. The snow will probably mix in, or change to rain Saturday morning. Slick travel will develop late Friday night and into Saturday.

The worst of Winter Storm Iola will hit the heart of the Interstate 95 corridor from the northeast corner of Maryland through Philadelphia to Trenton and New Brunswick, according to the National Weather Service.