4-8 inches of snow dropped in biggest storm of season

Most areas received between 4-8 inches of snow in what is to date the biggest snowfall of the season.

Tom Kines, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, said that while the snow was on its way out, motorists still need to use caution.

“There’s issues out there, and until the salt gets working on the roads and everything, it’s going to be a slow go,” Kines said.

“It will improve this afternoon, but caution that any slush that’s around this afternoon, with the temps getting down into the teens tonight, that’s going to freeze up, so that’s something to watch out for.”

Kines said that’s going to be a problem the next few nights when temperatures are expected to drop down into the teens.

“The next couple of days, on the cold side, especially tonight after it clears out, temps dropping down into the teens,” he said.

On Tuesday afternoon the National Weather Service upgraded the advisory to a winter storm warning.

Brodheadsville received 6 inches of snow, while Summit Hill had 6.5 inches.

Albrightsville got 7 inches, while Danielsville picked up 5 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Despite the heaviest accumulation of the year to date, West Penn Township Police Chief Brian Johnson said there were no crashes in the township to speak of.

“State highways aren’t too bad, secondary roads are still snow-covered,” Johnson said. “For being a storm, it actually is uneventful.”

Just after midnight the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reduced the speed limit on interstates 78, 80, 81 and 380.

“Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow,” according to Sean Brown, PennDOT spokesman.

Schools canceled for the second day in a row. Courthouses in Carbon and Schuylkill counties opened late today. Carbon County Community Transit canceled bus and paratransit service for the day.

The main roads were passable for the morning commute, but residents said back roads were rough.

Regardless, wintry road conditions only serve to compound things for first responders, according to Joni Gestl, administrator for the Lehighton Ambulance Association.

“Getting to them takes much longer; once we’re there, getting them down slippery steps, or we might have to shovel to get them out of the house, or non-shoveled driveway to get these patients out of their residences due to snow or ice,” Gestl said. “The next problem is getting them to the hospital, it’s a longer transport time; that all contributes to a very busy day for the folks that are out there on the frontline.”

Gestl said it’s important to take precautions when winter weather strikes.

“People need to understand slips and falls,” she said. “If neighbors would only help neighbors, shovel their sidewalks, bring in their mail, do something to make it easier for them.”

Gestl added, “If you can stay in, stay in.”

“Brittle bones,” she said. “You don’t want to be breaking them.”

The snow might not hang around long.

Kines said that Thursday figures to see a good amount of sunshine, though it will again be on the cold side, with temperatures probably topping out around freezing.

“There’s probably going to be a noticeable breeze blowing tomorrow, which is going to put an added chill into the air,” he said.

Friday and Saturday figure to see lots of sunshine, with temperatures expected to reach the 40s on Saturday and Sunday, Kines said.

Kines said any notions that this will be winter’s biggest punch are likely premature.

“Just because it’s getting milder this weekend doesn’t mean that’s the end of winter,” he said. “There will be cold snaps that come back and probably snow as well, but it will be a nice reprieve.”