Winter Storm — Montgomery, Pennsylvania

2006-02-12 · Montgomery, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

A major winter storm affected the northeastern United States, including the northern mid Atlantic region, during Saturday February 11th and Sunday February 12th. An area of low pressure developed along the Gulf Coast states on Friday February 10th, and began moving to the northeast toward the North Carolina coast during February 11th. Snow overspread the region around 11 AM EST on Saturday from south to north. The precipitation initially was relatively light with temperatures either at or above freezing. The snow really increased in intensity across eastern Pennsylvania around Midnight EST on Sunday the 12th and around 2 AM EST in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area. The snow gradually ended from southwest to northeast around Noon EST on the 12th. The snow fell steadily and became heavy at times in many areas late Saturday night and Sunday morning. The last strong band of snow passed through during the mid morning hours on Sunday. During this strengthening storm, a good portion of the region experienced intense snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour. These intense snowfall rates mainly occurred during Sunday morning the 12th as the storm really intensified off the Delaware and southeast New Jersey Coasts. During the height of the storm on Sunday morning the 12th, thunder and lightning occurred as the snow fell. The presence of this thundersnow just goes to show how energetic this storm became. Also, winds gusted to about 40 mph. The gusty winds, coupled with the falling and accumulated snow, produced near whiteout conditions along with drifting snow across a good portion of the area. The storm moved away from the region on Sunday afternoon the 12th, allowing the accumulating snow to come to an end. The February 11-12, 2006 winter storm was blamed for several vehicle accidents across the region. During the height of the storm, intense snowfall rates occurred which when accompanied by gusty winds, produced near whiteout conditions in several locations. Minor accidents occurred the night of the 11th and the morning of the 12th throughout the Lehigh Valley with no injuries reported. Traffic was snarled on Route 100 between Route 401 and in West Chester (Chester County) due to icy spots on the morning of the 13th, with one accident (minor) reported at Route 100 and Route 113 (morning of the 13th). In Montgomery County, slippery conditions contributed to two cars colliding along Route 202 on the 12th in Upper Merion. Several minor car accidents occurred in Towamencin during the morning of the 12th due to slippery conditions. One car flipped onto its side Monday morning (the 13th) in Upper Moreland due to some slippery conditions, with no injuries reported. In Bucks County, Interstate 95 South in Bristol Township was backed up for more than 1.5 miles around 9 AM EST (the 12th) after a vehicle overturned, due to slippery conditions just south of the Route 413 exit. The heavy snow, coupled with wind gusts between 35 and 40 mph across eastern Pennsylvania during the height of the storm early Sunday morning (the 12th), downed some trees and power lines. About a total of 10,000 PECO customers (7,000 in Bucks County) in the Philadelphia metropolitan (five county area) area lost power during the weekend storm, including some power outages in Chester County Sunday morning (the 12th). Most of the outages were restored by late Sunday afternoon (the 12th).This winter storm also took a toll on some humans as well. A homeless man was found deceased in a Philadelphia parking garage during the storm, and it was determined that he died from hypothermia and bone cancer. A 53-year old Elkins Park (Montgomery County) man died from a heart attack while shoveling snow on the 12th. A 48-year old Flourtown (Montgomery County) woman died from hypothermia Saturday night (the 11th). The winter storm was blamed for a rash of assault cases (domestic related) in Bucks County, two on Saturday (the 11th) and six on Sunday (the 12th).This winter storm impacted schools, transportation as well as other activities. A State of Emergency was declared in Bensalem (Bucks County), and school activities were postponed on the 11th and 12th across Bucks County. In Yeadon (Delaware County), a snow emergency was declared for the 12th into the morning of the 13th, and in Media (Delaware County) a snow emergency was also issued. Most of the Lehigh Valley schools had a 2-hour delay Monday morning (the 13th) to allow for additional storm clean-up. Most schools in Bucks and Montgomery Counties began two hours late on the 13th to allow for additional storm clean-up, however some other schools cancelled classes. Widespread SEPTA delays occurred on the 12th, and the Philadelphia International Airport had about 40 percent arrivals and departures cancelled on the 12th, and about half on the 12th. About 40 percent of flights were cancelled on the 12th at the Lehigh Valley International Airport. Delta Airlines cancelled flights at the Philadelphia International Airport; Continental, Northwest and American Airlines cancelled many flights to the Philadelphia International Airport during the night of the 11th. Churches cancelled services on the 12th in and around Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Phantoms hockey team postponed Sunday's (the 12th) game as the team could not get home from Chicago back to Philadelphia, due to the winter storm. Some sport games were even moved up in start times on the 11th in Chester (Delaware County) due to the winter storm.Some specific snowfall amounts include, 20.5 inches in West Caln Township (Chester County), 18.0 inches in Honey Brook (Chester County), 17.5 inches in Quakertown (Bucks County), 17.0 inches in Drexel Hill (Delaware County), 17 inches in Ambler (Montgomery County), 16.5 inches in Royersford (Montgomery County), 16.0 inches in Exton (Chester County), 16.0 inches in Williams Township (Northampton County), 16.0 inches in Roxborough (Philadelphia County), 15.2 inches at the Lehigh Valley International Airport (Lehigh County), 15.0 inches in Aston (Delaware County), 15.0 inches in Lansdale (Montgomery County), 14 inches in Fricks (Bucks County), 14.0 inches in Alburtis (Lehigh County), 13.0 inches in Doylestown (Bucks County), 12.5 inches in Center City Philadelphia (Philadelphia County), 12.0 inches at the Philadelphia International Airport (Philadelphia County), 12.0 inches in Boyertown (Berks County), 12.0 inches in Hanover Township (Northampton County), 11.2 inches in Reading (Berks County), 8.0 inches in Stroudsburg (Monroe County), 6.5 inches in Germansville (Lehigh County), and 4.0 inches in Pocono Summit (Monroe County).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5490456. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.