Midday Weather Update

Click Pic to View Larger

By:  Monsoon Mike

If you're watching the Scranton TV stations, you're already seeing some schools closing on the screen crawl and wondering why given the snow is not set to begin over much of the Monsoon Mike's Weather Headquarters area until later this afternoon. Well, it's because of what I mentioned yesterday. Advection snowfall is already happening ahead of the main storm especially in higher elevations and north of Interstate 80. This radar map picture from 10:45 a.m. shows that quite nicely. The entire state will fill in with snowfall later this afternoon, but not before I think most kids make it home from school safely. For you adults, however, if you're working past 5 p.m., I'd prepare for a potentially rough ride home

Water Boil Advisory Cancelled - Fountain Springs/Country Club Estates

The following has just been posted to Ashland Borough's Facebook page

WATER BOIL ADVISORY CANCELLED The Water Boil Advisory for Fountain Springs and Country Club Estates has been cancelled. The required sampling and testing of the water system has been conducted. The test results have indicated no presence of harmful bacteria. These tests demonstrate that the quality of your drinking water was not affected by the water main break and that it is safe for human consumption.

Schuylkill County School Early Dismissals - 1/2/14

Schuylkill County School Early Dismissals - 1/2/14

Grey Goose Bar, McAdoo Fire, Man in Custody

From TamaquaArea.com

Emergency responders were called around 12:20 AM today (Jan. 2, 2014) to 94 North Kennedy Drive (SR309) in McAdoo for a fully engulfed structure fire.

Overnight Fire in Quakake Displaces Family

From TamaquaArea.com

Firefighters responded to 4 East Main Street just before midnight last night (Jan. 1, 2014) for a report of a house fire. Firefighters were quick to respond and extinguish the fire. Fire was said to be caused by a clothes dryer.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

Click Picture to View Larger

By:  Monsoon Mike

Winter Weather Advisory Issued For Schuylkill County

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON THURSDAY TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON THURSDAY TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY.

Schuylkill County Weather Update

By: Monsoon Mike

Morning Update:

Good Morning & Happy New Year Everyone! Already folks asking me if the snow tomorrow will give them and their kids a bonus day off from school/work. Unfortunately, I don't think so for most of us. That's not to say Skook won't see snow, but this is a very tricky storm where those areas and areas north of I-80 will have a light snow going most of tomorrow from some atmospheric advection, but areas south of there (Pottsville/Reading/Lehigh Valley/etc.) may not have any decent snow beginning until much later in the afternoon tomorrow. I think a general 1 to 4 inches on a line from Harrisburg to Pottsville will be the final snowfall accumulation when this wraps up Friday morning. Then farther east into the Lehigh Valley and north into northern Jersey, perhaps 3 to 5 or 4 to 6 inches as they'll be more energy there as the storm wraps up along the coast. See my map for what I expect across Skook. Not a crippling storm by any means, but as we know, us eastern Pennsylvanians can't drive in sunshine let alone a little snow, so expect the evening rush tomorrow and definitely the morning rush Friday to be less than desirable. Then some of the most intense cold since several years ago rushes in behind the storm. Lows Friday night will be subzero in many areas!!

Overnight Fire in Ashland, Reported to Be Started By Homeowner

Around 1:30am Wednesday, Ashland Police were called to 1331 Walnut Street, Ashland, after a neighbor called police for the owner of 1331 was causing a disturbance and was throwing contents from the house into the street.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

Happy New Year to all my readers!

Two big stories in our forecast are snow on Thursday and extreme cold to end the week. The cold I'm certain about. The snow, not so much.

Models have considerably backed off on what they yesterday thought was going to be a major snowstorm, much as I thought would happen given the lack of true atmospheric blocking.

The result I think will be a general 1 to 3 or 2 to 4 inches across the region on Thursday and Friday. Key times Thursday p.m. into early Friday a.m. With the fickle nature of the models on this storm, however, I only give this forecast about a 60 percent certainty at this point. Be sure to follow my fan page for the latest updates.

Following this fairly minor to low-end moderate snowfall will be some of the coldest air we've seen in this area for quite a while. Expect subzero lows and highs barely out of the single digits and teens to wrap up the week!

Officials Sworn in Today At Courthouse

This morning, two elected Schuylkill County Officials were sworn in.

Both John Domalakes and Christine Holman were sworn in.

John Domalakes was sworn in as the Schuylkill County Judge after retaining his  position in the November election. 

Christine Holman was sworn in as the new Schuylkill County District Attorney.

The images below are from Christine Holman's swearing in.

Pictures from L David Truskowsky

One Person Killed on Interstate 81 Crash

Mahanoy City crews were called to the Southbound Milemarker 129.5 Tuesday morning for a crash with ejection.

One person has been confirmed to have died in the crash.  They were pronounced dead by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner David Truskowsky.

State Police are reported to be investigating the crash.

WNEP is reporting that the man who died was Ralph Rumbel of Ringtown.

3 Alarm Fire Destroys Homes in Shenandoah

Photo from Schuylkill County Firewire

Around 10am, crews were called to 112 South Grant St. Shenandoah for a structure fire.  When crews arrived they found heavy fire in the rear of the structure.  The home was said to be unoccupied.

The fire also spread to another unoccupied home at  110 South Grant and to 114 South Grant Street which was occupied.

The fire call originally came in with entrapment but that turned out to be false.

One dog was rescued from the occupied home.

The fire hit a 3rd alarm after crews needed additional help from around the area for assistance.

No cause has been determined for the blaze at this time.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

Ok Ok Ok! Time for Monsoon Mike's Weather Headquarters to bring some reason into mass hysteria that seems to have broken out this afternoon on some of the competing weather boards. The excitement stems from the fact that the one holdout model on the storm has suddenly jumped on board with a major snowstorm for Thursday and because of that, Monsoon Headquarters hotlines have been bombarded with calls, messages, and texts this afternoon asking if I am on board. The answer is maybe, but not quite. (Don't you love how us weather gurus talk?) LOL 

Seriously, the GFS coming on board today is convincing, however, let me say this loud and clear: WE ARE STILL THREE DAYS OUT. It seriously concerns me when there is model consensus three days out. There are at least 10+ more model runs before the snow even starts falling and as good weather prognosticators, we have to put computers aside sometimes and use reason. The lack of a pure blocking pattern STILL indicates to me that this WON'T be a huge event for us. 2 to 4 inches? 3 to 6? Sure. Quite possible. Huge snowstorm? Doubtful. Nevertheless, you know the old joke of the guy in the flood who ignored a rescue boat, rescue helicopter, etc. saying "God will take care of me" and then wound up dying and said to God "why didn't you take care of me" and God said "heck, I sent you a boat and a helicopter." LOL Well, along those lines, I can't ignore these quite convincing signs of a potential good snowstorm, so I am not ignoring them. I'm just being quite cautious at this point. 

Talk to you again New Year's Eve!

The Restaurant/Organization Voted Best Breakfast in Schuylkill County is . . . .

Over the weekend, we polled our followers on our Facebook page and asked our readers:

What restaurant/organization serves the best breakfast in Schuylkill County?

(Drum roll please) And the winner is: