Winter Storm — Southern Centre, Pennsylvania

2014-02-04 to 2014-02-05 · Southern Centre, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Snow and sleet accumulations ranged between 4 and 6 inches. Ice accumulations were between 0.10-0.25 inch.

Wider weather episode

A significant winter storm impacted Central Pennsylvania from late on 4 February into the afternoon on Wednesday 5 February 2014. A wintry mix of heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain occurred across the region from a dynamic low pressure system and upper-level energy that shifted from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic coast. The snow started during the late evening on 2/4 across the western Alleghenies before changing to sleet and freezing rain during the pre-dawn and early morning hours on 2/5. Sleet quickly changed to all freezing rain over the southern tier counties, where widespread heavy icing (0.25-0.50 inch) was observed. The greatest ice accumulations were focused over the Lower Susquehanna Valley. The wintry precipitation ended by the early afternoon on 2/5. Total snow accumulations generally ranged from 6 to 10 inches over a relatively narrow sw-ne stripe through the zones located just north of I-80. Locally higher amounts close to a foot were observed in Tioga County and into the southern Poconos. Snow amounts of 1 to 5 inches were common in the south-central mountains, tempered by sleet and freezing rain. Over the far southeast, storm total (liquid) precipitation amounts averaged between 1 and 2 inches.

Impacts: The heavy snow and significant icing prompted many schools to close on 2/5. Road travel varied from hazardous to extremely dangerous across the area with severe traffic impacts on the morning commute. The wintry precipitation caused numerous vehicle accidents and road closures. A fatal vehicle accident involving four tractor trailers and a passenger car closed Interstate 76 (PA Turnpike) in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, around 1130 PM EST on 2/4 until about 1 PM EST on 2/5. The storm also downed several trees and utility lines creating widespread power outages. At the height of the storm nearly 850,000 customers statewide were without power (primarily in the southeastern PA). The State EOC maintained activation throughout the storm. Shelters and warming centers were opened throughout the southeast region. Governor Tom Corbett declared a disaster emergency for York and Lancaster counties to make state resources, including the National Guard, available to support county and local recovery operations.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 487734. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.