Winter hats, gloves, mittens and scarves — not to mention snow shovels, brushes and ice scrapers — proved worth their weight in gold across Berks County this past weekend.
And residents may want to keep all of that winter gear close at hand.
Forecasters are monitoring a storm developing in the South that could bring snow and ice to the region by Saturday, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said.
“It’s something to keep track of,” Kines said. “The storm may stay in the South and never bother Pennsylvania at all.”
What does appear certain is that cold air will remain entrenched in the region through the end of the week and into early next week.
“Overall, this weather pattern favors colder weather for the next week, and possibly longer,” Kines said.
On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a cold weather advisory for Berks that remains in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Wind chills as low as 12 degrees below zero were forecast.
The weather service urged residents to use caution when traveling outdoors and to wear appropriate cold-weather clothing, including hats and gloves.
The advisory followed back-to-back snowstorms Saturday and Sunday that each delivered more than 3 inches of snow to Berks — far exceeding earlier forecasts.
Even the hint of another snowy weekend is enough to inspire dread or delight, depending on one’s tolerance for winter weather.Kines said both weekend storms tracked closer to the coast than anticipated, resulting in heavier snowfall across southeastern Pennsylvania.
The highest totals fell along a swath that included Berks, northern Chester County, western Montgomery County, and Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Here are some two-day snowfall totals reported to the National Weather Service across Berks:
• Bern Township (Reading Regional Airport): 6.8 inches
• Boyertown: 7 inches
• Birdsboro: 7.2 inches
• Huffs Church: 8.9 inches
• Spring Township: 7.3 inches
• Mertztown: 7 inches
• Richmond Township: 6.5 inches
• Wernersville: 6.5 inches