SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — A fast-falling band of snow turned roads slick across the region on Wednesday, leading to a wave of crashes, shutdowns, and travel advisories from police and emergency crews.
As the roads began clearing PennDOT, lifted the speed limit restriction that had been in place on Interstate 81 from Schuylkill County to the PA/NY state line. Reduced speed limit restrictions remain in place on Interstate 84 and Interstate 380 due to current weather conditions.
Earlier in the day, accidents were widespread throughout the region.
In Dickson City, police closed Commerce Boulevard after “numerous crashes and vehicles sliding off the hill”, warning drivers to avoid the area until plows can catch up. In Olyphant, authorities reported a major shutdown on East Lackawanna Avenue from Mid Valley Drive to the Casey Highway, where a tractor-trailer jackknifed and came to rest sideways, blocking the roadway.
Scranton City Hall and Weston Field closed early (1:30 p.m.). Residents are reminded to call DPW at 570.348.4178 if they need snow removal assistance.
FOX56 chief meteorologist Brian Schroeder says Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect. Adjust your driving for road conditions. www.fox56.com/weather/radar
Hanover Township Fire Department said its crews were dispatched to multiple crashes, including collisions at South Main Street and Bunker Drive and another along South Main near the Country Club.
Slippery conditions contributed to wrecks throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. In Scranton, emergency crews responded to accidents on Moosic Street and Montage Mountain Road, where vehicles struggled to maintain traction on steep, snow-covered streets.
Additional crashes were reported in Coaldale, Hazleton, and several communities in the Back Mountain area, where snowfall intensified during the afternoon.
In Wayne County, police reported crashes near Hamlin on I-84.
As of 1:30 p.m., LCTA suspended all service. At 4:00 p.m., service resumed using snow routes.
PennDOT urged drivers to check real-time travel updates using 511PA, noting that winter conditions can quickly reduce visibility and dramatically increase stopping distances. The agency advises slowing down, avoiding sudden movements, and delaying nonessential travel when snow is falling or when plows are actively treating roads.
According to the FOX56 weather outlook, the region is under a pattern that favors recurring snow events as colder air settles in. Forecasters say additional accumulation is possible, especially in higher elevations, and warn that untreated roads will remain hazardous as temperatures drop again overnight.
Officials across multiple municipalities echoed the same message: if you don’t need to be on the road, stay home until crews can clear and salt major travel routes.