Although the Blizzard of 2016 isn’t close to being over yet, the “overperforming” storm is already shaping up to be one for the record books, with locations in the Lehigh Valley reporting close to two feet of snow by mid-afternoon Saturday.
Est. Read Time: 7 mins![Detwiller Plaza, Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20514'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The clock tower and fountain in Detwiller Plaza, Hellertown, are still recognizable despite nearly 3 feet of snow.
Although the Blizzard of 2016 isn’t close to being over yet, the “overperforming” storm is already shaping up to be one for the record books, with locations in the Lehigh Valley reporting close to two feet of snow by mid-afternoon Saturday.
Officially at Lehigh Valley International Airport 21.2 inches of snow was measured at 1 p.m., which is only about five inches less than the all-time record snowfall (25.9 inches) recorded during the Blizzard of 1996 almost exactly 20 years ago.
The region remains under a blizzard warning for 22 to 30 inches of snow through 3 a.m. Sunday, and as of 4 p.m. heavy snow from a precipitation band oriented along a northeast-southwest axis continued to fall across much of east central Pennsylvania.
In the Saucon Valley, Saturday was a snow day for most businesses and most residents (wisely) stayed at home, only venturing out if they were dressed appropriately for the weather or had to for work.
Snow emergencies remain in effect in both Hellertown borough and Lower Saucon Township.
Below are blizzard-related photos submitted by Saucon Source readers via Facebook, in no particular order. If your photo is one of the ones featured, be sure to share this story with your friends on Facebook and let them know it was published on Saucon Source!
![Main Street in Hellertown was unusually quiet because of the blizzard.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Main Street in Hellertown was unusually quiet because of the blizzard.
![Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20771'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lower Saucon Township
![Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20528%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hellertown
![A car is nearly buried on First Avenue in Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20704%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A car is nearly buried on First Avenue in Hellertown
![Deep snow in Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Deep snow in Lower Saucon Township
![17 inches measured early Saturday afternoon in a Lower Saucon Township yard](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
17 inches measured early Saturday afternoon in a Lower Saucon Township yard
![Hydration for shoveling](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hydration for shoveling
![Rose Lane, Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20528%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Rose Lane, Lower Saucon Township
![Most pets were excited, curious, confused or a combination thereof, because of the snow.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20528%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Most pets were excited, curious, confused or a combination thereof, because of the snow.
![The digging out will take time.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The digging out will take time.
![Detwiller Plaza in Hellertown was a study in stone-faced beauty as the Blizzard of 2016 raged.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20537%20434'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Detwiller Plaza in Hellertown was a study in stone-faced beauty as the Blizzard of 2016 raged.
![Steel City, Lower Saucon Township, during the early morning twilight](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Steel City, Lower Saucon Township, during the early morning twilight
![West Depot Street, Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20528%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
West Depot Street, Hellertown
![Hellertown, during the early morning hours on Saturday](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20434'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hellertown, during the early morning hours on Saturday
![Wassergass, Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20467'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Wassergass, Lower Saucon Township
![The snow was so deep by mid-afternoon Saturday that some plow drivers--like this one on Rt. 412--were having difficulty making passes.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The snow was so deep by mid-afternoon Saturday that some plow drivers–like this one along Rt. 412 in Lower Saucon Township–were having difficulty making passes.
![Smaller dogs like Monty--who lives in Hellertown--struggled to walk through the deep snow when it was time to 'do their duty.'](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20386'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Smaller dogs like Monty–who lives in Hellertown–struggled to walk through the deep snow when it was time to ‘do their duty.’
![There's nothing like a game of blizz-ball (blizzard baseball) to break the monotony during a major snowstorm. This one took place in Hellertown.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20434'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There’s nothing like a game of blizz-ball (blizzard baseball) to break the monotony during a major snowstorm. This one took place in Hellertown.
![Patio sets disappeared under heavy snow all across the Saucon Valley](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%201028'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Patio sets disappeared under heavy snow all across the Saucon Valley.
![Familiar places became almost unrecognizable under the heavy snow that fell.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%201028'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Familiar places became almost unrecognizable under the heavy snow that fell.
![At times the snowfall rate was measured in inches-per-hour.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
At times the snowfall rate was measured in inches-per-hour.
![Just clearing a modest path was a major undertaking.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Just clearing a modest path was a major undertaking.
![Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20540%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hellertown
![Normally busy Rt. 412 in Hellertown was mostly deserted on Saturday afternoon because of the blizzard.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20434'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Normally busy Rt. 412 (Main Street) in Hellertown was mostly deserted on Saturday afternoon because of the blizzard.
![Wassergass, Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20434'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Wassergass, Lower Saucon Township
![Snowblowing in Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20578'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Snowblowing in Lower Saucon Township
![Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20578'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hellertown
![Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20540%20388'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The heavy snow provided a rare opportunity for motorbike enthusiasts to ride on deserted streets.
![Wassergass, Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Wassergass, Lower Saucon Township
![This was the first true blizzard many local children had ever experienced.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This was the first blizzard many local children had ever experienced.
![The snow was a fun playground for bigger kids, too.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20434'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The snow was a fun playground for bigger kids, too.
![Union Cemetery of Hellertown, from Walnut Street](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%201028'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Union Cemetery of Hellertown, from Walnut Street
![Kingston Park, off Countryside Lane in Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kingston Park, off Countryside Lane in Lower Saucon Township
![Several tractor-trailers became stuck as they attempted to enter I-78 West at the Rt. 412 on-ramp by Turkey Hill in Bethlehem, just across the border from Hellertown.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20434'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Several tractor-trailers became stuck as they attempted to enter I-78 West at the Rt. 412 on-ramp by Turkey Hill in Bethlehem, just across the border from Hellertown.
![Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%201028'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Northampton Street, Hellertown
![The Saucon Valley School District campus, viewed from Walnut Street](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20510'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Saucon Valley School District campus, viewed from Walnut Street
![Ice-clogged waterways slowed to a trickle](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20578'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ice-clogged local waterways slowed to a trickle
![The historic Pony Bridge along W. Walnut Street in Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20578'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The historic Pony Bridge along W. Walnut Street in Hellertown
![It was a good day for quiet walk in the woods, as long as you were appropriately outfitted](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20578'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was a good day for quiet walk in the woods, as long as you were appropriately outfitted
![The historic Heller-Wagner Grist Mill in Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20578'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The historic Heller-Wagner Grist Mill in Hellertown
![Skibo Road in Lower Saucon Township](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20513'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Skibo Road in Lower Saucon Township
![Northampton Street, Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20511'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Northampton Street, Hellertown
!["Wow, that is a lot of snow!"](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20771'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
“Wow, that is a lot of snow!” Some adults and kids opted for unusual facewear.
![The fountain in Borough Authority Park in Hellertown is enrobed in ice and snow.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20514'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The fountain in Borough Authority Park in Hellertown is enrobed in ice and snow.
![In order to achieve an accurate measurement of snow depth, it is recommended to take three separate measurements in wind-sheltered areas and calculate the average.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20960'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In order to achieve an accurate measurement of snow depth, it is recommended to take three separate measurements in wind-sheltered areas and calculate the average.
![Hellertown, near W. Walnut Street](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20578'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hellertown, near W. Walnut Street
![Walking in the street was easier than trying to walk on unshoveled sidewalks. Pictured: Main Street, Hellertown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20516%20357'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Walking in the street was easier than trying to walk on unshoveled sidewalks. Pictured: Main Street, Hellertown
![The joys of summer seemed far away on one of the snowiest Saturdays ever in Saucon Valley.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20771%20578'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The joys of summer seemed far away on one of the snowiest Saturdays ever in Saucon Valley.