About 2 feet of snow fell over parts of Schuylkill County on Saturday.
As of Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service at State College had reports of 23 inches in Pine Grove, 20 inches in Shenandoah, 20 inches in Girardville and 19 1/2 inches in Tremont.
“Most areas have seen 20 to 25 inches across the county,” Elyse Hagner, NWS meteorologist, said.
Snow accumulations were 1 to 2 inches per hour at times with 35 mph wind gusts, she said.
“We are expecting a couple more hours of snow, but everything should be out of here by this evening,” Hagner said. “The system is slowly moving out of the area.”
Meanwhile, residents were being urged to stay inside and not travel unless absolutely necessary Saturday. There were only a few people walking the streets of Pottsville early Saturday. Most of them were clearing off their vehicles or shoveling the sidewalk.
“It’s crazy. I don’t like it,” Ken Thomas said Saturday.
He was clearing the snow off an SUV on Mahantongo Street about noon Saturday. By that time, he said he has been shoveling and clearing snow for about three hours.
“I’m ready for bed,” Thomas said.
Thomas said it has been about six years since he saw that much snow.
“I’d move south in a minute if I could,” he said.
Andy Maurer was using a snow blower on the sidewalk in front of his home Saturday afternoon in Schuylkill Haven.
“I think I need a bigger snow blower,” Maurer said. “I did not think we would get this much.”
The snow was too deep even for children to enjoy.
Robin Allan, Schuylkill Haven, was with her grandchildren Saturday afternoon. They brought their sleds to their favorite spot on the hill by Schuylkill Haven Area High School. However, the snow was too soft and deep for them to slide down the hill.
“I figured we would get about a foot,” Allan said. “This is a lot more than a foot.”
John Matz, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency coordinator, said in a statement Saturday that as of 8 a.m., there were no major accidents.
“The situation in Schuylkill is snowy with no major incidents,” Matz said in the statement. “During the overnight there were a few minor traffic accidents and a closure of Interstate 81 in Lebanon County that temporarily caused a disruption of southbound travel in Pine Grove Township, south of the 100 mile marker. That incident was resolved at approximately 11 p.m.
“The PennDOT Maintenance District, Schuylkill Haven, is fully deployed, plowing and treating highways and Interstate 81. Municipal road crews will be working throughout the day to maintain travel lanes. The driving conditions remain treacherous, if you must travel, please be cautious and allow ample time. There is currently fire police and law enforcement activity in Rush Township at state Route 309 above state Route 54 because of slippery conditions and immobile vehicles.”
The following municipalities have issued snow emergencies within their jurisdiction: Ashland, Frackville, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Pine Grove, Ringtown, Saint Clair, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah and Pottsville. Mahanoy City also issued a disaster declaration.
Residents of these areas should check with local officials, municipal websites or street signage to determine areas where parking is prohibited, allowing public works road crews and state agency plow trucks to clear streets and highways and maintain access for emergency vehicles.
In Frackville, the streets department will work Sunday and Monday to clear the snow from its streets curb to curb. On Sunday, all residents are asked to move their vehicles to the even side of the street. On Monday, residents are asked to move vehicles to the odd side of the street.
“The goal is to get as much snow removal done as possible and cooperation from residents would be greatly appreciated,” Frackville Mayor Kim Phillips said in a media release.
In Saint Clair, borough police announced that the borough is extending its parking restrictions for the entire length of Second Street and the entire length of Hancock Street until noon Monday.
Due to extreme winter road conditions, PennDOT temporarily restricted certain vehicles from Interstate 78, Interstate 81 and Interstate 176 in east central Pennsylvania.
The purpose of the ban was to help ensure the interstates remain open during the most challenging conditions of the winter storm, according to a press release from the department. When conditions improve, PennDOT will remove the travel restrictions.
The types of vehicles prohibited from traveling on the interstate highways are: empty straight trucks; large combination vehicles (tandem trailers and doubles); tractors hauling empty trailers; trailers pulled by passenger vehicles; motorcycles and recreational vehicles.
The “Fire and Ice” event today at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park Clubhouse has been canceled. It is not being rescheduled.
Diocese of Allentown Bishop John O. Barres issued the following statement Saturday:
“In light of the worsening weather conditions and the National Weather Service’s posting of a blizzard warning for most of the area, the obligation of Catholics to attend Mass is lifted this weekend. No one is obliged under current weather conditions to put themselves or others at risk to attend Mass this weekend. I ask everyone to pray for the safety of snow removal crews, first responders and all those who must work because of or in spite of the severe weather.”