The winter storm is bringing snow faster and heavier than first expected, but it's still able to be plowed, officials said. Watch video
Snow fell faster than expected in a potentially record-breaking winter storm Saturday, and officials across the region said road crews were doing their best to keep up.
With the region under a blizzard warning, snow can accumulate in spots as quickly as 2 to 4 inches an hour, according to the National Weather Service.
Major roads were passable Saturday afternoon, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Ron Young said, but will not be able to be fully cleared until the storm eases up.
"Nobody's keeping up with the snow. That's just not possible at this point," said Warren County Emergency Management Director Frank Wheatley.
About 19.5 inches of snow had fallen at Lehigh Valley International Airport as of 1 p.m., according to the weather service. The region could see 2 feet or more in total accumulation by the time the storm is finished. The record for a single Lehigh Valley snowstorm is 25.9 inches, set in January 1996.
In Easton, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said the city's snow emergency declaration has been extended through 7 p.m. Monday, and bigger equipment may be brought in to supplement the plows with snow removal.
Officials say they were prepared early to deal with the onslaught of winter.
"It's just more than anyone expected," Young said.
Declaring a snow emergency got cars off the roads early in Phillipsburg and plows were ready to go, Mayor Stephen "Rogie" Ellis said. Emergency crews were fully staffed, and emergency management officials were planning further ahead by preparing FEMA applications should a federal disaster be declared, Ellis said.
Despite the snow, things could have been worse.
Wheatley said he was concerned about strong winds bringing down power lines, but that has not been as bad as he feared. Some 1,300 people were without power for a time Saturday in White and Knowlton townships but have been restored, he said.
"We'll handle the snow," Wheatley said. "It's the snow and wind combination ... that can create havoc."
Panto agreed: "It's better to deal with snow than with power outages."
For the most part, it seemed as though residents were abiding by calls to stay off the roads, giving crews the space and time they needed. Speed and vehicle restrictions were in place on Lehigh Valley highways.
"We're stressing don't go out if you don't have to," Young said. "You really are taking a risk going out in this storm."
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.