What was predicted to be a minor snowfall left most of Berks County blanketed in up to 3 inches of snow Saturday morning.
While snow was in the forecast — most meteorologists called for a coating to an inch — the area experienced a stubborn storm that left behind plowable amounts and placed the region in a winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service.
The clipper storm hit the area just before 7 a.m., dropping sometimes heavy snow throughout the morning. Temperatures hovered just below freezing, allowing the wet snow to accumulate.
Snow stopped falling in most of the area by midday.
Berks was in a weather advisory from Saturday from 1 a.m. until 4 p.m. The advisory warned of slippery road conditions and cautioned drivers to slow down when driving. Accidents due to slipping and sliding vehicles were reported on roads all over the county during the day Saturday.
The storm was likely a factor in a multi-vehicle accident that happened on Interstate 78 Saturday morning.
State police said 12 vehicles were involved in the crash — eight passenger vehicles and four commercial vehicles — that happened at about 7:50 a.m. in Greenwich Township.
The crash shut down I-78 in both directions as emergency responders freed people trapped in their vehicles and cleared the scene. No information on injuries was immediately available. The highway had reopened by late Saturday afternoon.
More snow might be on the way to Berks on Sunday, however it is not expected to match what fell Saturday.
According to AccuWeather.com, a storm could bring a coating to an inch of snow to the region throughout the day Sunday. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 34 degrees.
Temperatures on Monday will rise slightly, with a high of 36 degrees forecast. That is to be followed by lower temperatures, as the forecast high for Tuesday is just 26 degrees. There is no precipitation forecast for the start of the week.
A PennDOT salt truck works Perkiomen Avenue in Reading during the Saturday morning snowstorm. (Bill UHRICH/READING EAGLE)