Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 31, 1997

A slow moving low pressure system exited the New Jersey coast during the pre-dawn hours of the 31st and intensified into a powerful system during the day just south of Long Island. Significant Atlantic moisture was thrown inland over northeastern Pennsylvania. This moisture combined with colder air moving south into the region to bring heavy snow. Rain changed to snow early in the morning on the 31st. Snow quickly became heavy by mid to late morning. Blinding, heavy wet snow belted the Poconos from midday on the 31st into the early morning hours of April 1st. The wet nature of the snow and strong accompanying winds brought down many trees and caused widespread power outages, especially over the highest elevations. State police and emergency management officials reported that hundreds of motorists had to be rescued and placed in Red Cross shelters or other accomodations on the night of the 31st. The Pennsylvania turnpike and interstates 81 and 84 were among the many roadways that became impassable and were closed by late in the day on the 31st. States of emergency were declared in Pike and Wayne counties. By the time snow finally began to wind down after midnight on April 1st, a general 12 to 30 inches had fallen from the Wilkes-Barre Scranton area eastward through the Poconos. The hardest hit areas were eastern Lackawanna, Pike, and Wayne counties. Hamlin and Gouldsboro in southern Wayne county picked up 30 inches of snow while Lords Valley in Pike county got 24 inches. Significant 6 to 12 inch accumulations extended as far back westward as hilltop sections of Wyoming and Susquehanna counties.