The second major snowfall of the season blanketed the region Tuesday morning, with many areas receiving close to a foot or more of snow.

Summit Hill and Mahoning Township received 13 inches of snow by 8:30 a.m. Albrightsville measured in at 14 inches, with 12 and counting in Brodheadsville.

Other counts from around the region were 11.5 in Nesquehoning, 11 inches fell in Palmerton, 8.5 in Beltzville, and 8 in Walnutport.

Tom Kines, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, said early Tuesday, “It looks like a good average across the area at least right now is about 8 to 10 inches. Of course, those amounts are going to be a little higher.

“No doubt a significant snowstorm for the region; you get up to the Poconos, some spots that are over a foot up there,” Kines said. “You head south, the amounts diminish fairly quickly.”

Snow was tapering off by 10 a.m., leaving a good amount to clean up.

Kines said temperatures this afternoon will probably get above freezing, before dropping to below freezing tonight.

“You got to take care of moving that snow to wherever you want it this afternoon before temperatures get down below freezing tonight,” he said. “Obviously any slush around is going to freeze overnight.”

Kines said temperatures tonight will get down probably to the lower 20s.

“On the to-do list today, the big thing is to get the sidewalks shoveled, driveways shoveled, throw ice down or sand, get that taken care of today,” he said. “You’re not going to want to do that tomorrow; it’s all going to be frozen. “I know the top layer of snow is probably a drier snow, underneath the first few inches of snow was wet. That’s what you got to get rid of.”

Many schools announced closings or remote learning in advance of the storm.

Roads covered

As of 9 a.m., there was one lane clear on each side of Route 209 heading into Lehighton.

Elsewhere, there were several trees down blocking one lane on Fireline Road.

In Lehighton, borough Mayor Clark Ritter has declared a snow state of emergency until 6 p.m. The borough office was closed.

Borough Manager Dane DeWire said there was no parking permitted on the following streets: Bankway, Bridge, Carbon, First, Iron, Mahoning, Ninth, North, Ocher, Second, Constitution, Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard, Sixth, South, Third, and 12th.

“Please limit unnecessary driving and stay safe,” DeWire said. “Our crews are hard at work to clear the streets.”

Crews out cleaning roads

Sean Brown, PennDOT spokesperson, explained how crews were dealing with the storm.

“With the amount of snow we are receiving this is a plowable storm,” Brown said. “Our goal during the storm is to keep roads passable, not clear. During the storm our main focus is treating the major roadways.

“After those are clear we redirect the resources to the less traveled roads. PennDOT crews will treat all state-owned roadways.”

Brown said they have plenty of manpower, with over 200 plow trucks in District 5.

“We are utilizing a few complement of drivers and trucks, with drivers on 12-hour shifts,” he said. “If conditions warrant, all of our counties have the ability to bring in contractors to provide additional help.”

Brown said roads were “snow covered. Again, our goal is to keep roads passable.”

“Avoid travel if at all possible, give time for our trucks to do their job,” he said. “If you must travel, give yourself more time to get to your destination. Make sure your vehicle is prepared for the storm and prepared if you do become disabled in the snow with a winter emergency kit.”

The aftermath

These conditions are perfect for Blue Mountain Resort, which is throwing a heart-inspired and heart-stopping Valentine’s Day Snow Tubing Event from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday,

The slopes will shine bright with red, pink and purple holiday lighting, and snow tubers will enjoy slipping and sliding to music at one of the country’s largest and fastest snow tubing parks.

Kines said Wednesday looks like a pretty decent day, with temperatures in the mid 30s. But, a breeze blowing tomorrow will make it not quite feel like the mid-30s.

“I think by February’s standards, tomorrow is a pretty decent day,” he said. “Then tomorrow is a pretty cold night, with temps getting down to the teens; it wouldn’t shock me if some of the colder spots got down into the single digits tomorrow night.”

Kines said another system will effect our area Thursday and Thursday evening, though most of the precipitation is going to pass by to our north, but nevertheless, there could be a rain or snow shower or two during the course of the day.

He said temperatures on Thursday ought to get up to the mid 30s, with a dry day on Friday with temperatures probably into the upper 30s.