First major blast delivers plenty of precipitation, gusty winds, difficult travel
The first big snowstorm of the season reached the Lehigh Valley on Wednesday afternoon, bringing gusty winds and bands of precipitation that could amount to more than a foot of snow in some areas by Thursday morning.
The biggest question Wednesday evening was how quickly the snow would change to sleet.
“This is incredibly important because snowfall rates around the time of changeover will be 1-2 inches per hour,” said Ed Vallee, a meteorologist with Empire Weather. “That means if the changeover occurs two hours later [than anticipated] wemay see 2-4 more inches of snow than expected.”
The National Weather Service was calling for 12-20 inches of heavy snow in the region with wind gusts up to 35 mph. Awinter storm warning is in effect until 10 a.m. Thursday. Travel throughout the night was expected to be be very difficult to impossible, and power outages were expected.
Vallee was more conservative in his forecast, estimating 8-14 inches with the
highest totals in the Poconos and northwest of Allentown.
The winter conditions led PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to enforce emergency speed limits of 45 mph on the Northeast Extension, Route 33 and Interstate 78. Commercial vehicles were barred from traveling on those highways except for single-trailer tractors using chains and ones with approved alternate traction devices. The storm arrived as PEMA is shipping COVID-19 vaccines to medical networks across the state.
“We urge the public to stay home unless travel is absolutely necessary,” said Melissa Batula, PennDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration. “Fewer vehicles on the road allows our teams to focus on keeping the roads open for critical movements, not only of the vaccine, but also our emergency responders, medical professionals, and those needing these services.”
Cancellations started to come in early Wednesday.
Anticipating power outages, Bethlehem Area and Parkland school districts closed offices, child care and meal sites at noon and canceled remote learning classes for Thursday.
In a video message to the community, Bethlehem Superintendent Joseph Roy said the decision was driven by concerns about students being unable to get online.
Allentown closed its Lights in the Parkway display Wednesday evening and Weis Markets announced stores in the Poconos and Lehigh Valley would close between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
On the roads, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reduced the speed limit to 45 mph and restricted trucks to the right lane on four-lane
sections of Route 33, Interstates 78, 80, 81 and 380, and Routes 209, 222, 309 and 422. The Turnpike had similar restrictions.
By 5:30 p.m., PennDOT restricted any commercial vehicles except for loaded single trailers with chains.
Under the restrictions, certain vehicles are prohibited from those routes, including tractors without trailers, passenger vehicles towing trailers, recreation
vehicles, buses and motorcycles.
The Greater Valley YMCA, Ripple Community Inc., Lehigh Conference of Churches, Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Street Medicine Program and Allentown were working to expand shelter hours and provide meals and health care for homeless people during the storm.
The warming station at the Allentown branch of the YMCA can accommodate 70 socially
distanced guests and operating hours will be extended until 10 a.m. Thursday. Ripple Community Inc. will provide services 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, and the warming station will reopen 6 p.m. Thursday through 7 a.m. Friday.
In Bath, the mayor anticipated the aftermath of the storm when she designated a portion of Poplar Street a play highway from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday
— as long as there is snow and not ice — so children can sled down the hill.
But in a sign of the times, the news came with a caveat: Masks are required.
“I just want the kids to enjoy something in this year. We have all been through so much and it does affect them as well,” Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito said. “We have been in a snow drought, which for some people is good, but it’s a prime opportunity to do this.”