Schools close, transit services suspended as winter storm delivers up to 6 inches in higher elevations

Monroe County, PA — The season’s first significant winter storm swept through Monroe County on Tuesday, blanketing the Pocono Mountains with several inches of snow and creating treacherous conditions for the morning commute before transitioning to rain by early afternoon.

The storm, which moved into the region overnight and intensified during the pre-dawn hours, prompted widespread school closures across Monroe County and tested the readiness of road crews who had been preparing for days.

Snow Totals Vary by Elevation

As with many Poconos storms, elevation played the deciding role in accumulation totals. Higher terrain communities like Mount Pocono saw the heaviest snowfall, with 3 to 6 inches accumulating before the changeover to mixed precipitation. Snowfall rates during the storm’s peak reached up to an inch per hour, creating whiteout conditions on some roadways.

Lower elevation areas including Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg received 1 to 3 inches of snow before rain mixing eroded totals by mid-afternoon. The National Weather Service maintained a Winter Weather Advisory for Carbon and Monroe counties through 6 p.m., warning of slippery road conditions throughout the day.

Morning Commute Impacted

Drivers faced hazardous conditions during the height of the morning rush. On Route 33 north in Saylorsburg, state police responded to a crash, though no injuries were reported. PennDOT urged motorists to reduce speeds, increase following distances, and use caution on bridges and ramps, which freeze faster than roadways.

Ian Shedlock, Roadway Programs Coordinator for PennDOT District 5, said crews had been monitoring conditions closely. At the PennDOT facility along Route 611 in Bartonsville, salt sheds were stocked with more than 6,000 tons of salt, and 36 trucks were deployed to cover more than 500 miles of road throughout the county.

“We currently have all of our crews checking their trucks, making sure the plow is cutting edges spreaders work,” Shedlock said Monday as crews finished pre-treating roads ahead of the storm.

Schools, Transit Services Affected

Monroe County schools and educational facilities closed for the day, including the Monroe County Career and Technical Center and all Monroe County Head Start centers. Notre Dame Elementary and Notre Dame High School in East Stroudsburg also cancelled classes.

The Monroe County Transit Authority kept fixed route bus service operating but suspended its shared ride and Pony Plus paratransit services due to road conditions.

Residents Adapt to First Snow

For longtime mountain residents, the storm was a familiar ritual. In Lake Harmony, Mary Oetzel ventured out early to pick up prescriptions before conditions worsened. Lorenzo Flowers of Long Pond said he woke to the news reports and immediately started shoveling so he could get to the store.

Jay Briegel, a plow truck driver with PMA Landscaping in Stroudsburg, said the smaller storms are easier to manage than the marathon events that can keep crews working around the clock.

“The smaller storms are not so bad. Last year, we had a lot of the smaller storms. Hopefully this one won’t be too either,” Briegel said.

By late afternoon, residents in communities like Mount Pocono were clearing driveways as the snow tapered off and skies began to break.

What About Wednesday?

As of Tuesday evening, no school closures or delays have been announced for Wednesday, December 3rd. However, parents should monitor local announcements closely overnight and early Wednesday morning.

Skies are expected to clear Tuesday night, but temperatures will plunge into the low 20s with gusty winds up to 45 mph. Meteorologists warn that slush and standing water from Tuesday’s storm could refreeze overnight, creating icy patches on roads and sidewalks during the Wednesday morning commute.

School districts typically make delay or closure decisions by 5:30 a.m. Parents can check the following sources for updates:

• District websites: pmsd.org (Pocono Mountain), esasd.net (East Stroudsburg), svsd.net (Stroudsburg), pvbears.org (Pleasant Valley)

Monroe County schools that closed Tuesday included Pocono Mountain School District, East Stroudsburg Area School District, Stroudsburg Area School District, Pleasant Valley School District, Monroe County Career & Technical Center, and all Monroe County Head Start centers.

Looking Ahead

The storm system continued moving northeast toward New England through Tuesday evening, where forecasters predicted 5 to 10 inches of additional accumulation from the Poconos to coastal Maine.

Meteorologists say this storm fits a larger La Niña winter pattern expected to persist through February 2026, suggesting more wintry weather ahead for the region.