Area Prepares for Major Winter Storm

A major winter storm is expected to produce significant snow throughout the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend, and local residents along with local and state government officials have been busy preparing for the disruptions it could bring.

According to the National Weather Service–which has issued a winter storm warning for the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos from 1 a.m. Sunday to 1 p.m. Monday–the storm should arrive late Saturday night. It is forecast to drop 12 to 18 inches of snow on the area, with the heaviest snow expected thoughout the day on Sunday. A light glaze from freezing rain is also possible, with heavier mixed precipitation likely throughout the Philadelphia area and along the I-95 corridor.

Bitterly cold air will accompany the storm–Sunday’s expected high is 21–with even colder temperatures anticipated to move in behind it. Forecasters say high temperatures will be in the mid to upper teens and lows will range from 2 to 4 degrees for several days next week, with nighttime wind chills as low as -12. A cold weather advisory has also been issued for this evening.

“The cold wind chills as low as 10 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken,” Friday’s advisory statement said. “Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.”

With snow already on the ground from last weekend’s back-to-back storms, municipal public works departments have been doing what they can to remove snow piles from streets, especially in urban areas where population concentrations are higher.

Hellertown borough has issued a snow emergency that will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, which means vehicles must be removed from designated snow emergency routes by that time. The borough’s snow emergency routes are marked with signs and listed on the borough’s website. They include Main Street, Easton Road and most of Front Street. The borough also noted that property owners are required to clear snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their properties within 24 hours of a storm.

“Please be a good neighbor by keeping sidewalks, driveway entrances and fire hydrants safe from snow and ice,” the borough website states. “You could also offer to help those in your neighborhood who may not be able to shovel their own sidewalks.”

Residents who are able to do so are encouraged to park in their driveways during the storm, to clear the way for the plow trucks that will be coming through. For those who lack off-street parking, the borough-owned parking lots at Dimmick Park, Water Street Park, Tobias Drive and the Hellertown Post Office (Delaware Avenue) will also be open and available for use.

Lower Saucon Township has issued a snow emergency from 6 p.m. Saturday until 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27. In general, the township has very little in the way of on-street parking, but while the snow emergency is in effect parking will be prohibited in all cul-de-sacs and on dead-end streets to allow the township public works departments the ability to clear those roadways.

The township also reminded residents who live next to them to clear the snow from around fire hydrants and to refrain from calling 911 unless there is a true emergency. For routine assistance, the county non-emergency dispatch line is 610-759-2200.

Snow emergencies have also been declared in the following municipalities:

Coopersburg Borough: Starting at 7 p.m. Saturday. The borough’s designated snow emergency routes include Main Street, Station Avenue, Rt. 309, Linden Street and State Street. Property owners are required to remove snow from sidewalks within 16 hours of the end of a snowstorm. The borough also reminded residents not to blow or throw snow into streets, which is illegal and could result in a citation in most municipalities. For more information, visit Coopersburgborough.org.

Fountain Hill Borough: Starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. The borough also said Monday trash collection is postponed til Tuesday. The borough’s four snow emergency routes are Broadway, Delaware Avenue, St. Lukes Place and Ostrum Street between Mohican Street and the St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Room driveway entrance. For more information, visit Fountainhill.org.

Freemansburg Borough: From 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Monday, with parking prohibited along designated snow emergency routes such as Main Street during this time. For more information, visit Boroughoffreemansburg.org.

Saucon Valley School District announced Friday that due to the expected storm, the school district campus will be closed on Sunday, with all activities scheduled for Sunday postponed or canceled.

Northampton County officials Friday reminded residents that warming centers and emergency shelters are available in Bethlehem and Easton for those who need them. “Residents are encouraged to confirm with individual shelters and warming centers whether services will operate during severe inclement weather,” an email from the county stated.

Travel on Sunday is likely to be very difficult, and officials are already asking residents to stay home unless they have an emergency. If travel is absolutely necessary, food and water as well as other emergency supplies should be kept in vehicles.

Although widespread power outages are not expected in conjunction with the storm, PPL tweeted Friday that its crews are standing by and “prepared to respond if outages occur.” The company also has a new app customers can use to report and track the status of outages, which is available for download for Apple and Android devices.