Rare Avalanche Blocks Coxton Road in Luzerne County During Winter Storm Fern

People reports Winter Storm Fern produced a rare avalanche in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, that blocked Coxton Road on Sunday, Jan. 25 at about 2:30 p.m., authorities said.

Duryea Fire and Police, which responded to the scene, said a “large snow slide” occurred about 1.5 miles from the Lackawanna County border and blocked both driving lanes. Fox29 reported 12 to 16 inches of snow accumulation in the county. No vehicles were damaged, but officials called the road “impassable” and urged drivers to avoid the area unless it was “absolutely necessary.” The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation dispatched a crew that cleared the snow and made the road passable, though Duryea Fire and Police noted much of the road remained "very narrow" because of snow drifts.

Officials confirmed on Jan. 26 that the roadway had been cleared and reopened after crews removed the snow. PennDOT issued a warning after the slides, noting that snowy, slushy, or ice-covered roadways caused 8,329 crashes, 29 fatalities and 2,959 injuries last winter and reiterating safety concerns. Winter Storm Fern has brought cold, snow and ice to large parts of the U.S.; at the time of publication, at least 30 deaths in the U.S. had been attributed to the storm, according to the Associated Press.

Key Topics

World, Coxton Road, Luzerne County, Winter Storm Fern, Duryea Fire Police, Penndot