Ice Storm in Pennsylvania, January 2 to 3, 1999

A low pressure system intensified across the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes region during the afternoon and evening hours of the 2nd. As it did so, it spread a mix of snow, sleet, and patchy freezing rain across northeastern Pennsylvania late in the afternoon. Snow accumulations were fairly minor in this event, generally only an inch or less. The reason for this was that the precipitation quickly changed over to sleet and then freezing rain from south to north. Steady freezing rain persisted across much of northeastern Pennsylvania during the overnight and early morning hours from the 2nd into the 3rd. Freezing rain resulted in a substantial build up of ice. The hardest hit regions stretched from the Poconos into areas just north and east of Scranton. Ice accumulations to nearly one inch over parts of this area brought down trees and power lines. Power outages were widespread across Wayne, Pike, eastern Susquehanna, and northern Lackawanna counties. Department of Transportation and State Police officials also reported very treacherous travel conditions, especially early on Sunday the 3rd. Warmer air pushed into northeastern Pennsylvania from the south and west during the early morning hours on the 3rd. This milder air changed freezing rain over to light rain showers and drizzle. Finally by late morning on the 3rd, temperatures pushed above freezing in the normally colder sections of the Poconos.