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.
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).
