A fast-moving but intense winter storm moved through the area Friday afternoon into Saturday, seeing many residents struggling to get safely home during their evening commute and others settling in for an evening indoors.
The storm was originally scheduled to begin around noon, but forecasters soon moved that start time to mid-afternoon, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Murphy said.
At about 3 p.m., a mix of heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain moved into the area, with many residents glued to their smartphones, televisions and radios to find out what came next.
A man walks through frozen rain at Courthouse Square in Scranton on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A parking lot light shines through frozen rain in Scranton on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A man and a woman walk through frozen rain at Courthouse Square in Scranton on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
One silver lining of the storms’ post-Christmas timing was that schools were not in session.
Unfortunately, unlike a white powdery snow event, which provides children the opportunity to build a snowman or sled down a snowy hill, Friday’s event brought mostly ice, which when treated, turned to slush.
Murphy said the storm, which brought about an inch of snow across the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, was originally expected to bring more snow.
Instead, it quickly transitioned into sleet and freezing rain.
“The storm had a decent impact on the area in terms of the wintry mix,” he said. “Snow amounts were a little bit lighter than forecasted.”
The storm wrapped up at about 4 a.m. Saturday, leaving people to shovel their sidewalks and clear their cars
Area residents are not quite in the clear from challenging weather yet, though.
On Sunday afternoon, up to an inch of freezing rain is predicted, likely to make traveling a bit treacherous, Murphy said.
On Monday, however, temperatures are expected to rise to the 50s, and there are no significant weather events predicted for later in the week as of yet.
Colder temperatures, more snow
Murphy said the December average snowfall amounts are higher and temperatures are lower than average.
“For the whole winter season so far, we have 15.4 inches reported at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre airport, and the normal value is 10 inches. So, we’re about 5.4 inches above normal,” he said.
When it comes to temperatures, records indicate it has been seven degrees below average in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, he said, with the average daily temperature being 26.8 degrees.
“Definitely a cold and rather snowy start to winter,” he said.