Abington Snow Updates: Main Township Roads 'Gridlocked'

ABINGTON, PA — A major snowstorm is battering the Abington area and surrounding region for the second time in less than a week. Forecasters say since it is a heavy, wet snow, it could cause widespread power outages just days after Friday's storm knocked out electricity for thousands.

A snow emergency is in effect in Abington. Snow emergency routes must be cleared of parked vehicles to allow plows to come through.

Here are the latest impacts the storm is having in the local area:

• Officials are urging residents to keep off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Police said that main roads in the area - Easton Road, Old York Road, Susquehanna Road - are in "gridlock" late Wednesday afternoon.
• Meetinghouse Road between Susquehanna Road and Huntingdon Pike is closed until further notice.
• Snow emergency routes include the following roads: Old York Road, Moreland Road, Easton Road, Huntingdon Pike, Susquehanna Road, Highland Avenue, Old Welsh Road, Fitzwatertown Road, Fox Chase Road, Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown Road, Mount Carmel Aveue, Woodland Road, North Hills Avenue, Valley Road, Edge Hill Road, and Township Line Road.
• When shoveling snow, be sure not to block hydrants. Do not shovel snow into the street.
• Abington schools are closed for the day Wednesday. No announcement has been made regarding Thursday.
• Township offices are closed Wednesday.
• There are 12,083 power outages in Montgomery County as of 4:05 p.m. More than 1,300 of them are in Abington.
• SEPTA has altered its regional rail schedule for Wednesday, and several delays are already being reported.
• Pennsylvania is under a state of emergency, and unnecessary travel is not advised.
• Speed limit restrictions are in place on local highways 202 and 422,in addition to other major roads around the area.
• Speaking of 422, various delays have been reported throughout the morning and early afternoon. Exercise caution if you must drive.
• The PA Turnpike has announced restrictions on empty, straight CDL weighted trucks, large combination vehicles, tractors hauling empty trailers, trailers pulled by passenger vehicles, motorcycles and RVs on I-76 between Harrisburg and Valley Forge and I-276 between Valley Forge and New Jersey and Pa. Turnpike I-476 between Mid County and Clarks Summit.
• If you have a power outage, report it to PECO at 800-841-4141. Only call 911 for emergencies.

Do you have a tip, photo, or video you want to share? Email justin.heinze@patch.com.

Check back to this page for more local updates on the storm's impact to the Abington area.

Image via Abington Police Department