A winter weather advisory has been issued for areas in southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware, which means driving conditions will most likely be messy.
Snow, sleet and freezing rain will fall in the area through 4 a.m. Monday, said NBC10 First Alert Meteorologist Michelle Grossman.
As temperatures continue to plummet, ice will accumulate in addition to the snow that falls beforehand.
Cold and wet conditions will cause dangerous driving conditions for Sunday as well as Monday's morning commute, said NBC10 First Alert Meteorologist Michelle Grossman.
As snow and ice impact the region, experts from AAA are offering motorists safe-driving tips during their commute.
Tips for driving in the snow and ice:
- Let the road crews do their job - stay six car lengths behind plow crews and salt trucks
- Clean your car completely before you head out
- Slow down - Drivers are more likely to lose control of the vehicle when roads are snowy, icy or wet
- Increase following distance - This will allow time for a controlled stop.
- Know when to brake and when to steer - When traveling over 25 MPH, AAA recommends steering rather than braking to avoid a collision in wintry conditions, as less distance is required to steer around an object than to brake to a stop. In slick conditions, sudden braking can lead to loss of vehicle control.
- Do not use cruise control and avoid tailgating - Normal following distances of three to four seconds for dry pavement should be increased to eight to 10 seconds when driving on icy, slippery surfaces.
- Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
- All-wheel drive helps in the snow, but it won’t help in the ice. Beware of icing later tonight.
What to do in a front wheel skid:
- Continue to look where you want to go.
- Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.
- Avoid slamming on the brakes. Although hitting the brakes is a typical response, slamming the brakes will only further upset the vehicle’s balance and make it harder to regain control.
- Wait for the front wheels to grip the road again. As soon as traction returns, the vehicle will start to steer again.
- When the front wheels have regained their grip, steer the wheels gently in the desired direction of travel.
Check out NBC10 Severe Weather Central for all the latest weather updates.
