Snow that began Sunday evening mixed overnight with sleet and freezing rain as part of a combo storm.

The snow had largely subsided as of early Monday morning.

Most area schools were already scheduled off for Martin Luther King Day. The remainder closed or moved to virtual instruction.

A good portion of the area saw varying degrees of snow, according to Bill Deger, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.

“It looks like a report of 5.2 inches in Lehighton as of overnight about the time the snow started to switch over to freezing rain,” Deger said. “It was kind of a mix of sleet and freezing rain, a little glaze of ice; it’s now going back to snow showers, which will continue today but little additional snow accumulation.”

Deger said that for the most part, the original forecast held true.

“I think it did; I believe there was a forecast of 3 to 6 inches for the general Lehigh Valley/southern Poconos (area),” he said.

Weather watchers from Jonas measured 6.4 inches.

“We ended up pretty close to the forecast amount, and then we anticipated that mixing, which definitely occurred in the overnight hours into the early part of today with that sleet and freezing rain being reported.”

Deger said there will be additional snow showers, with little additional accumulation, before temperatures slowly fall below the freezing mark.

“We’re definitely concerned about any standing water or slush that’s out there on the streets or sidewalks turning into icy spots into Tuesday morning,” he said.

Deger said we should see temperatures hit the low 30s on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, we could be pushing the 40-degree mark, which will lead to some melting.

He said the colder air mass is expected to come back on Thursday, when temperatures will fail to get back to the freezing mark and we struggle to hit 20 by Friday.

“Be very careful traveling, especially late today, tonight, tomorrow morning (as temperatures) are going toward freezing,” Deger said. “There’s going to be some slippery roads that last until tomorrow.”

Roadways

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation gradually restored speed limits Monday morning.

Speed limits were reduced to 45 mph on highways in the area.

Sean Brown, safety press officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said, “Our plows are making progress in removing the snow from the roadways.

“Once the interstates and expressways are clear for the snow, our trucks can then concentrate their efforts on the smaller state roadways.”

Brown said motorists should avoid travel if they’re able.

“If at all possible, delay any travel for a while and give our trucks more time to clear the roads,” he said.

Brown said crews were ready for the storm.

“We were on shifts and out before the storm, staged and ready to go when snow began to fall,” he said.

Brown added crews will stay out until all the roads are clear.