Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, March 7, 1996

A cold front moved through the area on the 6th. A very large arctic high pressure system centered over the high plains slowly oozed cold air into Pennsylvania. At the same time a series of low pressure systems developed along the frontal boundary and were located over the Southern Appalachians the morning of the 7th and well east of the Middle Atlantic Coast on the 8th.The significant precipitation began during the morning of the 7th. In the Poconos, it fell mainly as snow. Accumulations averaged 10 inches. In the Lehigh Valley, it started as freezing rain and changed to sleet and snow. Accumulations averaged 5 inches. In the Northwestern Philadelphia Suburbs, precipitation started as freezing rain and rain and then changed over to sleet and snow during the afternoon. Accumulations averaged 4 inches, mainly in the upper parts of the suburban counties. In Philadelphia, 3.5 inches of snow accumulated, raising the seasonal snowfall record to 63.1 inches. Up to half of the snowfall accumulation from the Lehigh Valley southeast occurred during the morning of the 8th as a parting shot from the secondary low pressure system.The mixture of freezing rain, sleet and snow along with falling temperatures made driving extremely dangerous. The number of accidents increased the longer precipitation fell as freezing rain, with the greatest concentration in Berks, Chester and Montgomery Counties. Hundreds of schools were closed. In Berks County, in Amity Township, two drivers drove into light poles. In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania State Route 422 was shut down between Limerick and Linfield because of accidents. Cars were described as sliding all over the place in Pottstown and Lower Pottsgrove Township.