White Orthodox Christmas for Twin Tiers

Followers of the Julian calendar are finding they are celebrating a White Christmas for 2022.

A couple inches of snow were predicted overnight January 6-7 and Emergency Services officials reported road crews were out salting and, in some areas of heavier snowfall, plowing roads by 2:30 a.m.

No serious crashes were reported in the overnight hours but Tioga County did report some slide-off disabled vehicle incidents.  There had been several disabled vehicles on State Route 18/ Interstate 86 but dispatchers said the incidents were "nothing serious."

The National Weather Service in Binghamton issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook at 3:17 a.m. January 7 for Central New York and Northeast Pennsylvania saying gusty snow showers were possible for through the afternoon mainly for the counties along and west of Interstate 81.

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Forecasters warn the precipitation could quickly cause changes in visibility and quick light accumulations of snow on roadways.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials late Thursday night reduced the speed limits to 45 miles per hour and restricted trucks to the right-had lane on all of Interstate 81 as well as all of 1-80, I-380 and all of I-84 due to anticipated snow and ice.

A statement from PennDOT said crews are treating roadways around the clock with the primary goal of keeping roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT says road will be treated throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

Another system is expected to bring mixed precipitation, including sleet and freezing rain that could cause icy conditions Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, some Orthodox churches around the region were marking the birth of Christ with services on Thursday night with more services planned for Friday.