"The Morning Call Inc., Copyright 2002"
Date: THURSDAY, April 17, 1986
2 INCHES OF RAIN HITS L.V.
STORM CAUSES FEW PROBLEMS
by RICH HARRY, The Morning Call
A spring storm pelted the Lehigh Valley with more than 2 inches of rain over a 24-hour period ending last night, temporarily leaving some residents without power but otherwise causing no major problems.
The region received 2.09 inches of rain as of 7 p.m. yesterday and can expect to receive more precipitation today, said Charles Giannetta, a meteorologist at A-B-E Airport.
Giannetta said the storm was created by a low-pressure system that moved through Virginia and stalled over southern Delaware, where it hung most of the afternoon. The system moved slowly northeast later in the day and was concentrated in New Jersey last night, he said.
Giannetta said rain was expected to continue through early today and will probably end sometime tomorrow.
''We shouldn't have much more, though,'' he added. ''The major part of the storm is over.''
A tree was toppled onto a 12,000-volt power line in Palm, Montgomery County, knocking out power to 650 customers of Pennsylvania Power & Light Co., said Bert Daday, a company spokesman. The power went out at 4:50 a.m. and was restored shortly after 10 a.m., he said. Palm, Powder Valley and parts of Upper Saucon Township were affected.
Power also was interrupted in eastern Lower Saucon Township, with 103 customers affected, according to PP&L spokesman Robert Boyle. The power went out around 3:45 p.m. and was restored shortly after 6:30 p.m., he said.
Boyle said the power was disrupted because a wire burned, and was not necessarily related to the storm.
There were scattered electrical disruptions throughout the PP&L service area yesterday, spokesmen for the utility company said.
''They were very minor, nothing to speak of,'' Boyle said.
Though yesterday's rain caused only minor flooding, the prospect of more precipitation today had officials taking a cautious stance.
''We're still watching the skies,'' said Matthew Mazza, engineer for District 5-0 of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Mazza said he knew of no major flooding yesterday on area state roads.
Police and dispatchers throughout Northampton County reported no major flooding. However, water had crept into some basements in the northern part of the county, dispatchers said.
No roads were reported closed in the county as of last night. But motorists did face high water at the intersection of Easton Avenue and Willow Park Road in Bethlehem Township, said Cpl. Daniel Pancoast of the township police department. Pancoast said six inches of water filled the intersection, but motorists were able to drive through.
Giannetta, the meteorologist, said there is little likelihood any records would be set with the recent rainfall. ''I doubt it. The storm we had wasn't unusual.''
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"WEATHER BY GIANNETTA"