Holiday weather and travel: Roads treated ahead light snow, potential ice Christmas eve

PHILADELPHIA - FOX 29 Meteorologist Scott Williams says a burst of snow and a wintry mix is on track Christmas Eve morning and because it’s been below freezing, the past couple of days, expect the precipitation to stick immediately to untreated surfaces.

While PennDOT says the best thing to do is to stay home on Christmas Eve morning, if you have to go outside, their crews have already pre-treated the roads, expecting icy conditions.

"They’re starting with the interstates and the expressways first. This will certainly help with the snow accumulation and ice that we are expecting tomorrow morning, especially during the morning commute for the extra holiday travelers," said Krys Johnson, Safety Press Officer for PennDOT.

PennDOT also says their crews are fully staffed and prepared to work through the holiday. 

"Make sure that you keep aware of what real-time conditions are. 511 PA is a great resource for that. It’s real-time traffic, and you can be up to date all the time on what those road conditions actually are," Johnson advised.

For those trying to avoid the icy conditions Tuesday, they got their last-minute shopping done Monday night.

"I don't want to drive on Christmas Eve, so I'm going to get it done now," said Kacie Ferris from Prospect Park. 

Many other people at Christmas Village had the same idea and decided to bundle up in the below-freezing temperatures.

"I have two pairs of pants and three shirts," said one shopper. "I’m wearing lots of jackets and hand warmers and good gloves," added another. "I'm wearing fuzzy leggings, two pairs of socks, fuzzy shoes, a sweater, and hats and gloves," said a third.

Across the bridge, crowds filled the Cherry Hill Mall for some last-minute holiday shopping as well. 

To be considered a white Christmas, some of tomorrow’s expected snow just needs to stick around and coat an inch on the ground.

A light glaze of ice on untreated surfaces may be problematic in some spots.

Snow will arrive first in the Poconos and Lehigh Valley at around 5-6 a.m. on Christmas Eve. 

A band of snow will move through the morning and approach Philly between 7-9 a.m. and reach Northern Delaware and Interior South Jersey late morning into the midday timeframe before wrapping up.

A band of heavier snow/sleet could form as the system approaches the I-95 corridor.

Temperatures will climb to above freezing during the afternoon.