HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Even school districts used to bitter winters are cancelling classes ahead of a wave of bone-chilling cold moving into Pennsylvania and the Great Lakes area Tuesday while residents were urged to conserve electricity because of high demand.
The National Weather Service said temperatures in Pennsylvania will be coldest in its western parts, falling to 10 to 15 degrees below zero Tuesday with highs in the low single digits.
School districts including Erie, Pittsburgh, Beaver Area, Sharon and Penn Hills canceled Tuesday classes, as did the Penn State Shenango campus. Forecasters say the wind chill could make it feel like as low as 30 below zero.
Tuesday’s highs around the rest of Pennsylvania will reach into the teens.
The Valley Forge, Pa.-based PJM Interconnection said Monday that conserving electricity will help ensure the power supply is adequate.
The utility said demand for electricity and the need for conservation is expected to be highest Tuesday evening, and it asked people to conserve especially from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday.
It suggested setting thermostats lower, postponing use of major appliances and turning off lights and appliances that are not being used.
The National Weather Service said that, in the coming days, strong winds blowing over relatively warmer lake waters should create bands of snow showers downwind of the Great Lakes.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.