Winter Storm Hits Northeast PA — Snow Totals, Travel Restrictions

Heavy snow, sleet, and ice expected to slam northeastern Pennsylvania Friday afternoon through Saturday morning; travel strongly discouraged

STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY — A powerful winter storm is sweeping through northeastern Pennsylvania Friday afternoon, prompting winter storm warnings across the Poconos and bringing what forecasters say could be the heaviest snowfall of the season so far.

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties, with winter weather advisories in effect for Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Carbon counties. Snow began falling across the region early Friday afternoon and is expected to continue through Saturday morning.

County-by-County Breakdown

Monroe County: Under a winter storm warning from 1 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. Forecasters are calling for 4 to 6 inches of snow and sleet, with the highest totals expected in the northern half of the county and elevated areas. Snow could fall at rates of up to 1 inch per hour Friday night.

Pike County: Under a winter storm warning from 1 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday. Expected to see heavy snow with total accumulations between 5 and 9 inches. The county’s higher elevations may see even greater totals.

Wayne County: Both northern and southern portions of the county are under a winter storm warning from 1 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday. Accumulations of 5 to 9 inches are forecast, with snow developing Friday afternoon and the heaviest precipitation expected late afternoon through evening.

Lackawanna County: Under a winter weather advisory from 1 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. Expect 2 to 5 inches of snow and sleet. Sleet mixing in Friday evening may cut down totals in valley locations.

Luzerne County: Under a winter weather advisory from 1 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. Forecasters expect 2 to 5 inches of snow and sleet, with sleet mixing in Friday evening.

Carbon County: Under a winter weather advisory. Expect 4 to 6 inches of snow and sleet with ice accumulations up to two-tenths of an inch possible.

PennDOT Restricts Travel on Major Highways

PennDOT has implemented Tier 3 vehicle restrictions across northeastern Pennsylvania, the strictest level of restrictions that still allows some traffic.

Starting at 2 p.m. Friday, the following roads are affected:

Interstate 81, north of I-83
Route 33, entire length
U.S. 22 between I-78 and Route 33
All Pennsylvania interstates east of I-81, including the PA Turnpike (I-76) and all eastern Turnpike extensions

Under Tier 3 restrictions, the following vehicles are banned from affected roadways:

All commercial vehicles except loaded single trailers with chains or approved traction devices
School buses, commercial buses, and motor coaches
Motorcycles
RVs and motorhomes
Passenger vehicles towing trailers

Speed limits have been reduced to 45 mph on all affected roadways, and commercial vehicles not subject to the restrictions must travel in the right lane only.

Dangerous Travel Expected Friday Evening

The storm is expected to create hazardous conditions during the Friday evening commute, traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the holiday season.

“Long story short, despite the high uncertainty with the final snow and sleet totals, disruptions are to be expected Friday afternoon and Friday night as this system moves through,” according to the National Weather Service forecast discussion. “Periods of snow, sleet, and/or freezing rain/ice will make travel dangerous and anyone with travel plans will see disruptions.”

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll urged caution: “With Friday being a heavy holiday travel day, it’s important that folks keep an eye on the weather when making travel plans, and be prepared to make adjustments, if necessary.”

PennDOT and Turnpike crews began pretreating roadways Friday morning, though officials warn that salt cannot eliminate all hazards and icy patches may still develop.

Timeline

Friday afternoon (1-4 p.m.): Snow develops across the region, moving from west to east. Conditions begin deteriorating.

Friday evening (4-10 p.m.): Snow intensifies across Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties. Sleet may begin mixing in across lower elevations in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Peak snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible in the heaviest bands.

Friday overnight: Heavy snow and sleet continue. Travel becomes very difficult to impossible in areas under winter storm warnings.

Saturday morning: Snow tapers off from south to north between 6 a.m. and noon. Lingering snow showers possible, particularly in northern areas.

Bitter Cold to Follow

The storm will be followed by a blast of Arctic air heading into the final days of 2025. Lackawanna County and the City of Scranton have already issued Code Blue Frigid Weather Alerts for multiple nights next week:

Saturday, Dec. 27: 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday, wind chills around 20 degrees
Monday, Dec. 29: 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Tuesday, wind chills near 9 degrees
Tuesday, Dec. 30: 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday, wind chills around 11 degrees

Another storm system is expected to bring rain to the region Sunday night, followed by the bitter cold blast that will carry through New Year’s Eve.

What Residents Should Do

If you must travel Friday, PennDOT recommends:

Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions
Turn on headlights; if caught in a snow squall, turn on hazard lights
Stay in your lane and increase following distance
Do not drive distracted
Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice
During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway — do not stop in the flow of traffic

Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle including a phone charger, ice scraper, warm clothing, water, and snacks.

For the latest road conditions, check 511PA.com or call 5-1-1. PennDOT also reminds drivers that Pennsylvania law requires removing accumulated ice and snow from vehicles within 24 hours after a storm ends; violators face fines of $50, or up to $1,500 if dislodged snow or ice causes death or serious injury.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as conditions change.

Last updated: Friday, December 26, 2025