Ice Storm in Pennsylvania, March 28 to 29, 1996

A low pressure system developed over the Gulf Coast States the morning of the 28th. Meanwhile a high pressure system was located over New England and brought in a fresh supply of cold arctic air in the lowest levels of our atmosphere. A second low developed along the South Carolina Coast the afternoon of the 28th and moved northeast. By dawn on the 29th it was located well east of the Delmarva Peninsula. Precipitation started as snow across the area around noon. By sunset, precipitation was falling as snow and sleet in the Poconos and sleet and freezing rain in the Lehigh Valley. Overnight precipitation fell as freezing rain, sleet and snow in the Poconos and rain and freezing rain in the Lehigh Valley. Precipitation ended as snow in the Poconos on the 29th and rain and freezing rain in the Lehigh Valley. Snowfall accumulations were generally between 1 and 3 inches. But about one-quarter to one-half of an inch of ice accured on limbs and power lines. This ice brought down tree limbs and caused sporadic power outages. Hardest hit was Northampton County where precipitation fell as freezing rain the hardest and longest.