POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County residents should see 4 to 7 inches of snow on the ground today as the prepare to begin the week.
John Banghoff, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, State College, said Sunday that main roads should in the decent shape this morning as the snow was expected to end in the early morning hours. However, he urged caution on side roads.
“It should be a really light, fluffy snow. A nice enjoyable snowstorm that we haven’t had yet this season,” he said.
A high temperature of 32 degrees is expected today. Temperatures will not climb too much throughout the week, with highs in the mid-20s Tuesday through Thursday and in the 30s Friday and Saturday.
This weekend could be “a gigantic mess,” Banghoff said. There is potential for snow, sleet and freezing rain Saturday into Sunday, according to the NWS. Banghoff said it “may be one last breadth of winter,” although it is too early to tell for sure.
Snow started falling in Pottsville around 2 p.m. Sunday. By 5 p.m., Mahantongo Street was covered with snow.
Sean Brown, safety press officer for the state Department of Transportation District 5, Allentown, said a full contingent of trucks — 200 — were out on the roads. Plows were staged at various locations before the snow even started to fall, he said.
Vehicle restrictions were placed on state roadways due to the storm. For example, the speed limit was reduced to 45 mph on Interstate 81.
“Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear,” according to a statement from PennDOT.
Pottsville Superintendent of Streets Tom Whitaker said a full contingent of street department workers and vehicles were out during the storm using a mixture of salt and anti-skid on the roads.
“We will be out until probably the early morning hours,” Whitaker said.
As of 6:45 p.m., the roads were “mostly slushed covered.” A level one parking ban is in effect to 7 a.m. today. Vehicles should be removed from snow emergency routes and fire lanes. Drivers should use caution when traveling.
“Everybody be careful,” Whitaker said.
Schuylkill Haven Mayor Mike Devlin said he spoke to Brian Murray, highway foreman for the borough, on Sunday and he said the department had six workers on duty and vehicles were doing their best to keep the roads in good condition. Weather conditions or a shift change played a role in how long the workers were out.
“They are on alert right now. They know this is going to happen,” Devlin said.
Jolene Renninger, store manager of Hadesty’s Ace Hardware, Pottsville, said the store was busier than normal due to the winter storm.
“We are almost out of shovels. We have a few left,” Renninger said, adding 15 to 20 were sold.
When the eight or nine shovels are gone, that’s it, Renninger said.
Children’s sleds were also popular Sunday.
“We sold a lot of sleds for this storm,” Renninger said.
Renninger said the snow gives children a chance to have fun.
“It will be good for the kids to actually go out and play in,” she said.
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