If you are a snow lover, Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg has a wonderful forecast for you. "We're going to keep the snow going all day today and into tonight and even into tomorrow there will be some light snow and flurries, but more intermittent in nature," Lundberg says. And that means by the time the storm heads out of here, the Lehigh Valley will likely pick up a foot to maybe 18 inches of snow. The National Weather Service has the Lehigh Valley under a Winter Storm Warning through 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
As is always the case with storms of this size, PennDOT is asking you to stay at home if at all possible. For those who must travel, PennDOT has implemented a 45-miles-per hour speed limit on all major roads. Local roads affected include routes 22, 33 and 309 and interstates 78, 80 and 380. All commercial vehicle drivers are being told they must remain in the right lane with restrictions are in place. PennDOT reminds you the latest road conditions can be found at www.511pa.com.
The lousy weather means COVID-19 vaccinations are being pushed back a few days. Vaccinations scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Agri-Plex at the Allentown Fairgrounds are canceled due to the winter storm. The Allentown Health Bureau says those scheduled for vaccinations today will have their appointments moved to Wednesday at the same time. Those scheduled for tomorrow will be moved to Thursday, also at the same time. Likewise, all St. Luke's COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled for today and tomorrow are being cancelled. St. Luke's says everybody scheduled to get vaccinated either today or tomorrow will be contacted to reschedule.
The snow is forcing New Jersey to close all six of its COVID-19 vaccination mega-sites. It falls under Gov. Phil Murphy's State of Emergency declaration. People who had appointments today at the Atlantic, Middlesex or Morris locations should be getting a call from a healthcare partner at the site and be rescheduled within a week. Meantime, the sites in Bergen, Burlington and Gloucester counties were scheduled to be closed.
The Better Business Bureau is warning people not to share their COVID-19 vaccine cards online. Vaccination cars have personal information on them like your full name, your birthday and where you got your vaccine which scammers use to steal identities. The BBB says scammers could use your real card to make a phony one. The bureau says if you want to share the vaccination moment online, take a photo of your vaccine sticker instead. This warning comes after scammers have been caught selling fake vaccination cards online in England.
New Jersey is currently under a state of emergency, closing state offices. It comes as forecasters predict parts of the Garden State could see up to 18 inches of snow. Gov. Phil Murphy is asking residents to stay home if possible, since high winds and heavy snow are expected while coastal areas could see some flooding.
Kutztown University is trading traditional spring break for a series of wellness days. Vice President for enrollment management and student affairs Dr. Warren Hilton says the days will be spread out during the semester. Hilton says that on wellness days, students won't have classes and "can simply be mindful, relax and recharge." The first wellness day is February 11th.
Angela Reese, widow of the recently deceased St. Rep. Mike Reese, has announced her plans to run for her husband's vacant seat. Revealing her plans this past weekend, Mrs. Reese says she wants to continue her husband's legacy of fighting for families and seniors. She's the third candidate to announce for the race to represent the people of Pennsylvania's 59 House District. That area includes Westmoreland County and parts of Somerset. The special election to fill the position is scheduled for May 18th.
New Jersey is extending open enrollment for uninsured residents. The first window closed Sunday and the next window will close February 28th. Residents shopping for health insurance will have a few chances to enroll, with May 15th currently the last day individuals will be able to obtain insurance. Gov. Phil Murphy made the decision in response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying the action helps residents obtain the coverage they need to take care of their health and wellbeing.