Editor's note: This story will be updated as more information comes in.

Lancaster County residents are waking up to a coat of snow Tuesday, bringing cold and windy conditions to the rest of the week. 

Through early Tuesday afternoon, 2 to 4 inches of snow is predicted to fall, according to Kyle Elliott, director of Millersville University’s Weather Information Center. Most of the snow will be over Monday night, but there’s a good chance of light snow Tuesday morning before exiting around midday. 

Temperatures will stay in the 20s, so according to Elliott, the ground will be snow-covered and slippery, making a slow and difficult commute Tuesday morning. 

PennDOT initially reduced speed limits on major Lancaster County highways to 45 mph, but those restrictions have since been removed.

Scenes from around Lancaster County during the second snow of 2024 [photos]

The National Weather Service announced a winter storm warning in the county that expired at noon Tuesday. Winter storm warnings are issued  for a significant winter weather event including snow, ice, sleet or blowing snow or a combination of these hazards. Travel will become difficult or impossible in some situations.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology announced their offices would be closed Tuesday and canceled new student orientation. Millersville University delayed opening until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Fourteen school districts reported closures Tuesday.

Most Library System of Lancaster County locations will be closed today except for Quarryville, Manheim Township, Intercourse and Elizabethtown, which all have delayed openings. The Moores Memorial Library in Christiana and Manheim Community Library have not announced any closures. 

County courthouse and non-essential county offices are closed Tuesday. The Lancaster County Commissioners Work session, slated for 10 a.m., has been cancelled. 

Street cleaning is cancelled and trash will not be collected, running on a one-day holiday delay for the rest of the week.

Nicholas Beaty, meteorologist with the NWS, said the northern jet stream, a weather current that plays a significant role in trapping cold air in the far north, is dipping from the arctic and bringing a cold spell to Lancaster County. 

More snow is forecast Thursday into Friday, with the NWS predicting 1-3 inches of accumulation. 

Overnight lows through Sunday night will be in the teens, with highs in the 20s on most afternoons, which Elliott said will make temperatures average 5 to 10 degrees below normal. 

Most days will also experience strong winds, which Elliott said, will make it feel significantly colder. Gusts could reach 40 to 45 mph on Saturday, dropping wind chills to around 0 degrees at times over the weekend. 

This week’s weather in Lancaster County will be the coldest since December 2022, Elliott said. But for perspective, he added it won’t be nearly as bad as January 1994 where Millersville recorded its all-time low of -18. 

While driving in snow, Elliott recommends allowing for extra space between vehicles, driving within the speed limit and avoiding slamming on brakes. To prevent damage to pipes, he suggests keeping water running at a trickle and keeping the thermostat at the same temperature.

This week, temperatures won't be low enough for frostbite to be a concern, but Elliott added Lancaster County residents should limit time outdoors and dress in layers.

In the county’s south, roughly between Willow Street and Pequea, River Road was closed between Maple Spring  and Marticville roads Monday night, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported.

Parts of Rawlinsville and Lloyds roads were still blocked Monday from trees falling Sunday.

After reporting over 4,000 power outages in the county Sunday, PPL Electric reported 16 outages Monday night, primarily near Providence Township, which suffered the brunt of the outages Sunday. Just across the river, PPL reported 98 customers were without power north of Wrightsville.

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