Winter storm brings inches, not feet, to Lehigh Valley

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The winter storm that prompted dire forecasts and a statewide disaster declaration largely fizzled in the Lehigh Valley.

It left the area with only moderate-to-light snowfall by Monday morning — far short of what forecasters warned could be coming.

Roads across Lehigh and Northampton counties were mostly wet or lightly slushy for the Monday commute, and snow totals generally amounted to more nuisance than monster storm.

By midnight,4.8 inches of snow had fallen at Lehigh Valley International Airport. The storm didn’t add much more by 5 a.m., with the airport reporting a ‘trace’ of snow at one-hour checkpoints throughout the night.

Some of the higher totals reported also were in the usual elevated locations.

Salisbury Township had 6.3 inches at 12:20 a.m. to lead the way in Lehigh County, while Nazareth reported 5.6 inches in Northampton County.

Overall, much of the area escaped the significant snowfall state officials had predicted for eastern Pennsylvania as the storm tracked farther south and east.

Parts of Bucks County, including Tullytown and Fairless Hills, reported 18 inches.

Ahead of the system, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a disaster emergency proclamation Sunday, citing forecasts that showed heavy snow for southeastern and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Those projections called for as much as 18 to 24 inches of snow in the Philadelphia region, with the Lehigh Valley and Poconos also expected to see disruptive totals.

Instead, the storm’s most intense snowfall spared the Valley from major impacts.

Crews prepared, but little plowing needed locally

The disaster declaration let state agencies shift personnel and equipment quickly if conditions deteriorated.

PennDOT had pre-treated roads and staged crews across eastern Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, and warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

“We ask for cooperation from the public, as they did during the last major storm, by staying home unless travel is absolutely necessary,” PennDOT Secretary Michael Carroll said during Sunday’s briefing.

“This allows our team to carry out their around-the-clock mission safely and effectively throughout the storm.”

Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton all declared snow emergencies over the weekend so cars could be removed from snow emergency routes.

PennDOT’s live traffic cameras in the Lehigh Valley showed just wet roadways early Monday.

What happened?

In the days leading up to the storm, computer guidance showed sharply different outcomes for eastern Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley.

Some models projected a powerful coastal storm capable of delivering heavy snow well inland. Others kept the system just far enough offshore that much of interior Pennsylvania would see only minor accumulation.

Those differences weren’t subtle.

Several widely used national forecast models initially depicted a classic nor'easter tracking close to the Mid-Atlantic coast — a scenario that would have brought significant snowfall to the Lehigh Valley.

At the same time, competing guidance showed the storm sliding farther east over the past few days, limiting snow inland and keeping the heaviest precipitation closer to the coast.

Meteorologists noted that a slight shift in the storm’s track was enough to dramatically change the outcome.

A westward jog would have meant plowable snow across the area. A slightly more easterly path — the one that ultimately verified — kept heavier snow bands well south and east.

That uncertainty persisted almost until the storm arrived. Forecast discussions focused on multiple scenarios, ranging from a high-impact snowstorm to a near miss.

In the Valley, the disagreement played out in real time. Winter storm watches and warnings were issued as forecasters weighed the full range of possibilities.

Some projections showed moderate snow totals if heavier bands set up overhead; others showed only light accumulations if the storm remained offshore.

Ultimately, the heavier bands never materialized locally.

About 3 a.m., Easton Councilman Frank Pintabone took to Facebook to give city residents a look at the roadways.

“Many of the main roads are looking good, but a lot of side streets remain slippery,” Pintabone's post said. “Crews have been working throughout the night, with a shift change coming.

“If you must travel, please use caution. If you don’t have to be out, stay off the roads so plows can continue their work.

“And please, when shoveling your car or sidewalk, do not throw snow into the street.”