Attention Pine Grove Area - 345 Exchange - 911 is down

If you know someone in the Pine Grove area, in the 345 exchange, who may not be a Facebook user, please contact them and let them know that their "911" system is down. For any emergency they need to call direct to their local fire company, or contact the 911 center at 570-628-3792. Even if they do use Facebook, share this post on their page just to help make sure they get the info!

Sunday Afternoon Fire in Minersville

Fire crews were called Sunday to a home on Pine Hill Street in the Minersville yesterday afternoon around 3PM.

The fire is said to have started in 524 but spread to the other homes on each side.

9 people were displaced in the fire, the homes were a double-block, 2 from one home, 4 from the other, the fire caused heavy damage to another home melting the siding.

No word has been what started the fire but they believe it started on the ground floor.

Fire crews from Minersville, Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven, Yorkville, and Llewellyn fought the blaze.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

Today would probably have to go down as one of the top 10 ugliest days of 2013. Plenty of cold rain with just a few degrees too warm to make it a nice, pretty snowstorm. Fog. Dark clouds. Biting wind. 

Things markedly improve Monday with the return of some sunshine but not the return of the mild temperatures experienced Saturday. In fact, we stay stuck in the 20s and 30s for as far as the eye can see. 

Something ELSE that the eyes are seeing is a potential storm Thursday. Many of my fellow weather gurus are hyping this one, saying things like "we're getting ready to sound the alarm!" Well, no alarms are sounding here at Monsoon Mike's Weather Headquarters. I stand by my call from earlier today that I think the storm doesn't blow into a full-fledged snowstorm until it is past us. Will we still have a storm of some sort? Quite probably yes. Will we still have to shovel? Quite probably yes. Will this be one of the bigger storms in recent history? No. Highly doubtful. But I'm always the first to bow down to my mistakes so if this changes, you'll be the first to know.

Go EAGLES! (There, I said it. Hope I didn't lose any fans ;-) 

Water Boil Advisory

The Borough of Ashland has issued a water boil advisory for Fountain Springs and Country Club Estates until further notice.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

A good dose of rain is in the cards for Sunday. Any threat for frozen precipitation should only be in areas near I-80 & at the tail end.

Cold air works in Monday and some snow showers are possible New Year's Eve. Our next storm potential is around Thursday & if it happened, it would be white & not wet. But right now the certainty of a Thursday snow event is only at about 35% (Monsoon Mike 2035)

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

Nice Saturday upcoming with temperatures a bit above normal, but that'll be short-lived as a soggy Sunday is in the cards. Recent trends now limit yesterday's concern for mixed precipitation at the start and finish. Still wouldn't rule some mixing out in normally colder locations, but this will be a 95% rain event. 

Then a good shot of cold air rushes in behind the storm just in time for New Years'. Beyond that, looking pretty cold and perhaps a storm or two up my sleeve in early 2014. At they say in the old time radio business, STAY TUNED ..........

Midday Weather Update -12/27/13

By:  Monsoon Mike

Morning trends show Sunday "should" mainly be a rain event for MOST of the area despite last night's trend toward a slightly more wintry solution. I DO think, however, that Sunday could start as a touch of wintry mix north of I-78 and end as a wintry mix in the same locations, but the majority of the area will feature a cold rain for MOST of the storm. Until then, a slight warming trend through Saturday with slightly above average temperatures, so enjoy, because a big cold snap moves in around New Years' Eve!

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By: Monsoon Mike

This morning's snow "showers" were more than just "showers" in many parts of the county. A half inch to as much as two inches fell as some of the cold front-associated snow bands had more juice to them than many of us weather geeks were thinking.

I promise no more surprises for Friday or Saturday, although we could get some rain on Sunday as another storm passes to the east. Not looking to be in the frozen variety as temperatures should be above freezing for most of the weekend.

Then a good, at least several week dose of cold wintry weather looks to be on tap as we get into January.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! The big day after Christmas shoppers and returners may have to deal with some random snow showers throughout the day as another front passes. Otherwise, fairly uneventful weather for the next couple of days. A brief warmup this weekend will be followed by a potentially long lasting cold shot beginning just before New Years, so get ready!

Schuylkill County Christmas Weather Forecast

By: Monsoon Mike

Merry Christmas everyone!

Enjoy chilly, dry weather the next few days! I'll keep it at that since I'm swamped tonight with Christmas. I'm sure you'll understand. :)

I hope you and yours have a very happy and blessed day!

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

Well, "springtime in winter" ended today with a good dose of rain and a strong cold front. The brisk feel of Old Man Winter is back just in time for Old Man Kris Kringle's visit tomorrow night and if the heavens have a Christmas miracle stored up for us, it rests in the possibility that a small disturbance and secondary cold front could drop a period or two of snow showers Christmas Eve afternoon and early evening. At the most, an inch could happen if one of those snow squalls set up shop over the area. At the least, maybe a coating or just some flurries. And while, if it does happen, it'll be might pretty, remember that people will be going to and fro tomorrow evening, so please be on the lookout for a sudden squall or two which could dust up the road and five minutes later, be gone. 

Then Christmas Day is just seasonally cold and dry. Dry actually for the foreseeable future beyond that.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

Today looked like the Twilight Zone across the area. Low clouds. Patches of fog. Rounds of rain showers. Crazily warm temperatures. It all made for an eerie look and feel just a few days before Christmas. But the eerieness is soon ending and by Christmas Eve and Day, it'll feel much more seasonable.

A very slow moving cold front which has been in no rush will eventually move across our area Monday morning as a wave of low pressure rides along it. Rounds of rain will occur Monday morning and temperatures will slowly sink throughout the day. Monday will be one of those days when the high temperature happens tonight at around 12:01 a.m. and drop throughout the day. At 12:01, we'll probably still be sitting well in the 50s, but by evening, we'll be deep into the 40s and perhaps 30s. 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day look seasonably chilly with temperatures no better than the 30s. In fact, the rest of the week looks seasonably chilly, with temperatures around normal plus or minus 5 degrees or so. No more plus 30 temperatures (like the past few days) or minus 20 temperatures (like last week with all the cold and snow). Just seasonally normal December weather. 

Unfortunately the chances for a White Christmas all but disappeared with this weekend's melting. Or did it? Well, the only Christmas miracle I "could" have up my sleeve is if a weak disturbance puts down some snow showers which "could" coat the ground Christmas Eve. Chances of this are rather slim (under 25%) and best the farther north you are, but keep the hope and spirit alive (if a White Christmas is what you want. Some of you are more than happy with a green Christmas). 

No major storms in the horizon until perhaps around New Years. January from this vantage point looks active. 

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

Saturday was one of those amazing temperature gradient days. Philadelphia soared to near 70 degrees breaking records. Meanwhile, here in Schuylkill, most areas were stuck in the 40's. I mentioned the possibility of this happening a couple of days ago. What happens is cool air can get stuck in the valleys and snow cover on the ground can keep temperatures some 20 to 30 degrees cooler.

Areas around Philadelphia will soar into the 70's once again on Sunday, but I think Skook will be protected from the craziest warmth once again. Still, I think 50s and 'perhaps' low 60s are possible for us which will be historical nonetheless.

Rain showers will be around more on Sunday which may turn into a regular rainfall for a few hours later. Cold air slowly works in Monday and it'll be nice and cold in time for Christmas Eve.

One outside possibility (just about 25% chance at this point) is for a weak system to form & bring us a light round of light snowfall Christmas Eve. Low possibility now but would be par for the course for what has been a crazy December of extremes.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

A lotta clouds and fog the next two days with April-like temperatures and showers especially Sunday. Monday is a transition day and Christmas returns to cold. Unfortunately the only chance for a White Christmas with all the melting will be if some of the clouds and fog keep temperatures a touch lower than predicted and keep a few renegade piles of slushy snow on the ground.

Crash in Blythe Twp. Near Schuylkill Mall

Thursday morning crews were called to Route 61 just south of the Schuylkill Mall for a crash involving 3 patients.  It is being reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle on a curve striking a utility pole.  The female passenger in the vehicle was ejected and flown from the Schuylkill County mall.

The driver and an infant who was also in the car taken to a local medical center.

The driver is to be cited for the crash.