A low pressure system that developed over the Southern Plains brought a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to Berks County, the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos. The worst reported conditions were over the higher terrain of the Poconos where temperatures failed to get above the freezing mark. Precipitation began as snow in all areas between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. EST. The snow changed to freezing rain in Berks County and the Lehigh Valley by 11 a.m. EST. Precipitation then changed to all rain by noon EST. There was little, if any, snow accumulation and ice accretions were less than one-tenth of an inch. Across the Poconos, conditions varied based upon elevation. In the valleys, precipitation changed to freezing rain and then rain during the afternoon. Over the higher terrain, precipitation fell as mainly snow and accumulated up to 6 inches. Precipitation ended during the early evening and any standing water or slush froze as temperatures dropped below freezing in all areas. Accidents once again spread south into the Lehigh Valley and Berks County.In Carbon County, traffic on U.S. 209 heading north into Jim Thorpe was backed up to Lehighton due to accidents and road conditions. In Penn Forest Township, a car slid into a utility pole and set it on fire. In Mahoning Township, two roads were closed including Pennsylvania State Route 443 because of numerous accidents and hazardous driving conditions. Schools dismissed early and Lehighton and Palmerton Schools were closed on the 4th. Several roads were also closed in Monroe County. The worst reported accident occurred in Middle Smithfield Township when a car and truck collided. The driver of the car was hospitalized. In Berks County, numerous accidents were reported in Penn Township, Womelsdorf Borough and Maxatawny Township during the morning and early afternoon. More accidents occurred during the evening as temperatures dropped; several had minor injuries and caused road closures. A mother and child were injured after she struck a utility pole in Cumru Township. Other accidents with injuries occurred in Robeson, Washington and Brecknock Townships. A few roads (including Pennsylvania State Route 10) were closed for hours. Accumulations included 6 inches in Tobyhanna (Monroe County). Ice accretions in the Poconos averaged between one-quarter and one-half of an inch. The winter weather was caused by a low pressure system that moved from eastern Texas on the morning of the second to Michigan on the morning of the 3rd. A secondary low pressure system formed in North Carolina on the morning of the 3rd and moved north and passed close to New York City early in the evening on the 3rd before moving into Maine early in the morning on the 4th. While the high pressure system position at the onset of precipitation was not in an ideal position to lock in the cold air (It was already over Nova Scotia.), the recent unseasonably cold weather kept sufficient cold air in place near the surface for the wintry mix in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Winter Storm in CARBON, PENNSYLVANIA
From 03-FEB-04 09:00:00 to 03-FEB-04 19:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Winter Storm in MONROE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 03-FEB-04 09:00:00 to 03-FEB-04 19:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Winter Weather in LEHIGH, PENNSYLVANIA
From 03-FEB-04 09:00:00 to 03-FEB-04 12:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Winter Weather in NORTHAMPTON, PENNSYLVANIA
From 03-FEB-04 09:00:00 to 03-FEB-04 12:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Winter Weather in BERKS, PENNSYLVANIA
From 03-FEB-04 08:00:00 to 03-FEB-04 12:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER