BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A narrow band of heavy snow blanketed parts of the Lehigh Valley overnight, dumping up to 14 inches in some parts of the region while others received just 4 or 5.
Folks who went to bed expecting a few inches awoke to more than a foot of snow.
“I completely understand the shock factor,” said Mike Lee, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. “One thing was that the snowflakes themselves were, simply put, gigantic. They looked like the size of cotton balls.”
Parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties were in a 15-mile-wide band that moved from Berks County eastward into Middlesex County, New Jersey, Lee said.
At 5.2" measured in just one hour, this was the greatest snowfall rate measurement we've received so far from the heavy band of snow that developed from Berks County eastward into New Jersey toward Raritan Bay. Numerous reports of 2" to 4" in one hour. Very impressive! ❄️ #PAwx https://t.co/JtalFMaz9B
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 17, 2024
Center Valley and Macungie recorded almost 14 inches of snow by 4:30 a.m., according to the weather service. Whitehall got 4.5 inches, and 5.7 inches were reported at Lehigh Valley International Airport at 7 a.m.
“It was a very narrow band with 3, 4, 5 inches of snow per hour,” Lee said. “You’re going to get some wild numbers in the Lehigh Valley for sure. That band definitely hogged all of the storm’s energy.”
Areas outside the band got anywhere from 3 to 5 inches, Lee estimated. The heaviest snowfall began around 1:30 a.m., he said.
“One thing was that the snowflakes themselves were, simply put, gigantic. They looked like the size of cotton balls.”Mike Lee, National Weather Service meteorologist
Early in the morning, PennDOT reduced speed limits to 45 mph on several highways and interstates, including Interstate 78, Route 22 and Route 33. State officials lifted those restrictions and restored normal speed limits just before 10 a.m.
LANTA made several adjustments to its schedule. Bus service was being delayed until 10 a.m. and will operate on emergency route service the rest of the day. Van service is delayed until 10 a.m. and will only run dialysis trips. Flex service is canceled.
In Easton, organizers were going ahead with a polar plunge in the Delaware River. One of the organizers, Julie Benjamin, said up to 900 plungers were registered at the fundraiser at Scott Park for Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
Here are snowfall totals reported by the National Weather Service:
Lehigh County
Center Valley: 13 inches at 4:19 a.m.
Macungie: 13.7 inches at 3:57 a.m.
Emmaus: 12.8 inches at 8 a.m.
Breinigsville: 9 inches at 7:40 a.m.
South Allentown: 12.1 inches at 7:20 a.m.
Upper Saucon Township: 8 inches at 1:56 a.m.
Lehigh Valley International Airport: 5.7 inches at 7 a.m.
New Tripoli: 4.5 inches at 7 a.m.
Whitehall Township: 4.5 inches at 7 a.m.
Schnecksville: 4 inches at 8 a.m.
Northampton County
Hellertown: 11.8 inches at 4:08 a.m.
North Catasauqua at 4.8 inches at 5:30 a.m.
Bangor: 3.5 inches at 7:45 a.m.
Danielsville: 3.5 inches at 7:59 a.m.
Moore Township: 3.3 inches at 7:30 a.m.
Martins Creek: 3.1 inches at 7 a.m.
Other spots
Jim Thorpe: 3 inches at 6:45 a.m.
Lehighton: 3.4 inches at 7 a.m.
Mount Pocono: 3.1 inches at 7 a.m.
Pennsburg: 5 inches at 4:54 a.m.
Willow Grove: 2.3 inches at 5:41 a.m.
Norristown: 1 inch at 2 a.m.
Philadelphia (Northeast): 3.5 inches at 7 a.m.
