QUESTION. I’M NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT. BUT THANK YOU. YOU’VE BEEN WATCHING A PRESS BRIEFING LIVE FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HEADQUARTERS IN DAUPHIN COUNTY. WE HEARD FROM THE STATE ON WHAT THEY’RE DOING TO PREPARE FOR THIS BIG WINTER STORM THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE GETTING THIS WEEKEND. WE HEARD FROM RANDY PADFIELD, THE DIRECTOR OF FEMA. WE ALSO HEARD FROM PENNDOT, THE TURNPIKE OFFICIALS, AND THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE. HOW THEY’RE GETTING TRUCKS READY, 2600 PLOW TRUCKS TO COVER 44,000 MILES OF ROAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. BUT I THINK THE BIG HEADLINE HERE WAS THAT THE TRAVEL RESTRICTION HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE. PENNSYLVANIA HAS A FIVE TIER SYSTEM TO RESTRICT TRAVEL. TIER FIVE IS ULTIMATE SHUTDOWN OF ALL HIGHWAYS. NO VEHICLE TRAFFIC WHATSOEVER. BUT TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, SATURDAY NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, A TIER FOUR RESTRICTION WILL GO INTO EFFECT AGAIN. THAT’S SATURDAY NIGHT. LET ME READ THIS TO YOU. TIER FOUR RESTRICTION FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES AND THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE AND ALL OF ITS MAJOR EXTENSIONS. TIER FOUR RESTRICTIONS, NO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, SCHOOL BUSSES, COMMERCIAL BUSSES, MOTOR COACHES, MOTORCYCLES, RVS, MOTORHOMES. PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT UNLESS THEY’RE TOWING A TRAILER. BUT STATE OFFICIALS EMPHASIZED REPEATEDLY THAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL DURING THE STORM, THEY’RE ASKING YOU TO STAY HOME, STAY INDOORS AND STAY SAFE. SO AGAIN, A TIER FOUR TRAVEL RESTRICTION GOING INTO
Vehicle restrictions set to go into effect on Pennsylvania roads
Updated: 1:39 PM EST Jan 23, 2026
Vehicle restrictions will go into effect this weekend in Pennsylvania as a major winter storm is expected to hit the commonwealth.Tier 4 vehicle restrictionsStart time: Midnight on Saturday, January 24Restriction level: Tier 4 (full commercial vehicle restriction)Roadways Affected: All Pennsylvania interstates, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and all extensions.Vehicles Not Permitted During Tier 4 RestrictionsAll commercial vehiclesSchool busesCommercial buses and motor coachesMotorcyclesRVs and motorhomesPassenger vehicles towing trailers (including cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks)PEMA recommendations PEMA recommends avoiding unnecessary travel during the storm, having extra bottled water on hand, charging phones ahead of the weekend, and checking in on elderly neighbors.”The best time to protect yourself and your family is before the snow begins,” said Randy Padfield, Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). “We encourage everyone to check the forecast often, adjust travel plans if needed, and to stock up on basic supplies like food, water, and medications, and make sure phones are charged and emergency kits are ready. Taking these simple steps ahead of time can reduce stress and prevent emergencies once the storm begins.”PennDOT plows PennDOT and the PA Turnpike are preparing for the storm, with crews working around the clock to treat and clear roads as conditions allow. Motorists should avoid unnecessary travel during the storm.Winter crashes: The dataPreliminary data from last winter in Pennsylvania shows 8,329 crashes, 29 fatalities, and 2,959 injuries on snowy, slushy, or ice-covered roads. Of those killed, 11 weren’t wearing seat belts, and 17 deaths involved drivers going too fast for conditions and leaving their lane.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
Vehicle restrictions will go into effect this weekend in Pennsylvania as a major winter storm is expected to hit the commonwealth.
Tier 4 vehicle restrictions
Start time: Midnight on Saturday, January 24Restriction level: Tier 4 (full commercial vehicle restriction)Roadways Affected: All Pennsylvania interstates, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and all extensions.Vehicles Not Permitted During Tier 4 RestrictionsAll commercial vehiclesSchool busesCommercial buses and motor coachesMotorcyclesRVs and motorhomesPassenger vehicles towing trailers (including cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks)
PEMA recommendations
PEMA recommends avoiding unnecessary travel during the storm, having extra bottled water on hand, charging phones ahead of the weekend, and checking in on elderly neighbors.
“The best time to protect yourself and your family is before the snow begins,” said Randy Padfield, Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). “We encourage everyone to check the forecast often, adjust travel plans if needed, and to stock up on basic supplies like food, water, and medications, and make sure phones are charged and emergency kits are ready. Taking these simple steps ahead of time can reduce stress and prevent emergencies once the storm begins.”
PennDOT plows
PennDOT and the PA Turnpike are preparing for the storm, with crews working around the clock to treat and clear roads as conditions allow. Motorists should avoid unnecessary travel during the storm.
Winter crashes: The data
Preliminary data from last winter in Pennsylvania shows 8,329 crashes, 29 fatalities, and 2,959 injuries on snowy, slushy, or ice-covered roads. Of those killed, 11 weren’t wearing seat belts, and 17 deaths involved drivers going too fast for conditions and leaving their lane.