A strong cold front moved through Pennsylvania during the morning of the 12th. Gusty west winds accompanied the cold frontal passage and continued for several hours into the first half of the afternoon. Peak wind gusts averaged around 45 mph. Scattered snow squalls accompanied the cold frontal passage and caused whiteout conditions with many accidents during the morning commute. Snowfall accumulations were under half an inch. But the combination of poor visibilities, quick icing on roadways as temperatures were below freezing and coinciding with the morning commute, led to many accidents. Throughout the day, there was blowing and drifting snow, especially on roadways with western exposure. In Berks County, in Oley Township two men (76 years old and 74 years old) died in a head-on collision at 11 a.m. EST. The driver of the allegedly speeding pick-up truck lost control of his vehicle when he came upon a snow drift while traveling southbound on County Route 662. His pick-up truck struck a van in the northbound lane. Also in Berks County, a 34-year-old woman was killed at 930 a.m. EST on Pennsylvania State Route 29 in Hereford Township when her vehicle struck a utility pole after spinning out of control. Interstate 176 was snow covered from Morgantown northward. The strong winds knocked down tree limbs in Maiden Creek and Greenwich Townships. About 1,100 homes and businesses lost power in the morning and power was restored by noon EST. In Montgomery County, a section of U.S. Route 422 was closed near Royersford due to many minor accidents, disabled vehicles, snow drifts and vehicles stuck in ditches. Drifts were also reported on Pennsylvania State Route 73. In Bucks County, there were 50 accidents alone along U.S. Route 1. Thirty vehicles within the county were involved in nine accidents within thirty minutes. In Lower Makefield Township, one road was closed due to icy conditions. Peak wind gusts included 48 mph in Pottstown (Montgomery County), 46 mph at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, 45 mph at the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia International Airports, 43 mph in Doylestown (Bucks County) and 41 mph in Reading (Berks County).

Strong Wind in BERKS, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 EG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in BUCKS, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 EG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in CARBON, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 EG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 EG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in DELAWARE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 EG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in LEHIGH, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 EG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in MONROE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 EG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in MONTGOMERY, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 42 MG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in NORTHAMPTON, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 EG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
From 12-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 12-FEB-03 15:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 40 MG
Property damage: .1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC