Valley gets December surprise

Jessica Viola walks Lacie, her beagle mutt, Wednesday on Milano Drive in Forks Township during the first snowfall of the season. Lacie is a rescue and loves the snow, as does her owner. “I was surprised it was snowing this morning,” Viola said. “I love the snow.” While mostly a coating of roads, it was the Lehigh Valley’s first measurable snowfall since 1.9 inches fell Jan. 18.

A quick burst of snow proved beautiful in some areas but treacherous in others as it blanketed the region Wednesday, coating lawns and trees, but making a mess of some area roadways.

It was the Lehigh Valley’s first measurable snowfall since 1.9 inches Jan. 18.

The intensity, or perhaps the unfamiliarity, caught many by surprise.

Around 10:30 a.m., Empire Weather meteorologist Ed Vallee said the weak clipper system would produce “about 60-90 minutes” of moderate snowfall — one that quickly coated surfaces as temperatures remained stuck below freezing.

North of the Lehigh Valley, the blustery burst cut down visibility, and rapidly changing road conditions flummoxed drivers.

Lehigh County emergency radio reported crashes in several areas, including two cars into a guardrail in Lehigh Township. First responders heading to the scene reported the roads as “iced over and slippery.”

PennDOT’s website showed dozens of plows and salt trucks deployed as the fender benders continued and the snow accumulated.

The National Weather Service said travel along Interstate 80 in the Poconos proved exceptionally difficult. Cameras showed traffic crawling along the snow-covered highway with visibility reduced to less than a mile.

The wintry precipitation, which fell intermittently in Allentown, appeared wrapped up by 1 p.m.

Even with a fresh coat of white on the ground, meteorologists expect the canvas to be cleared rather quickly with temperatures in the upper 40s the rest of the week.

The weather service said the latest indications are that Saturday will be mostly dry, but we’re likely to see some light rain Sunday. Afternoon highs are expected to be in the low 50s.

MONICA CABRERA/THE MORNING CALL

RIGHT: Lehigh University students Cormac O’Day, of Fairfield, Connecticut, and his friend, Caroline Vena, of Morgantown, NewJersey, take time out from studying and take a walk Wednesday along Upper Sayre Park Road in Bethlehem as the area receives its first snowfall of the season.

RICKKINTZELPHOTOS/THE MORNING CALL Vehicles move along Hayes Street on Wednesday in south Bethlehem, with SteelStacks shrouded in snow in the background, as the area receives its first snowfall of the season.

ABOVE: South Bethlehem seem to disappear as snow blankets the area Wednesday as the Lehigh Valley receives its first snowfall of the season.