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Ice storm fouls up schools, flights, commutes

Snow that turned to freezing rain overnight disrupted routines around the area in many ways.

Snow that turned to freezing rain overnight disrupted routines around the area in many ways.

Drivers woke up to cars encrusted in ice or ice-glazed snow, and driving was tricky with continuing freezing rain expected through rush hour, followed by plain rain through the rest of the morning.

As of 8:30 a.m., flights destined to Philadelphia were being held at their originating airports because of low visibility, not ice, said airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica. Some 42 flights have been cancelled and the airport provided pillows, blankets, snacks and water to 115 people who were stranded overnight.

Airlines plan to run normal operations as conditions improve, she said. (To check flights, go to www.phl.org.)

SEPTA canceled several trains this morning - Glenside No. 4311, Thorndale No. 9597, and Lansdale No. 513 between Lansdale and Gwynedd Valley - and advised commuters to expect delays on trolleys and regional rail lines. The Paoli line had delays of up to 30 minutes because of switch problems. The Norristown High Speed Line was using shuttle buses between Radnor and the Norristown Transportation Center because of a downed tree.

Service was also curtailed on SEPTA bus routes 27 (no service to Overbrook Park), 112 (no service to Residential Park), 117 (no service to Elwyn Station), 119 (no service to Concord Town Center) and 120 (service suspended).

Hundreds of schools in the region were opening late, including Philadelphia public and Archdiocesan schools.

But others were closed, especially in the Pennsylvania suburbs. Districts shutting their doors included Centennial, Council Rock and Pennridge in Bucks County; Upper Darby in Delaware County; North Penn, Souderton and Upper Perkiomen in Montgomery County.

By 8 a.m., traffic was flowing at reduced speeds on major roads, with the temperature already up to 34 at Philadelphia International.

Side streets this morning ranged from slippery, with icy chunks, slush and puddles, to coated with ice-encrusted snow. Sidewalks conditions ranged as well, from crusty to slushy to slippery.

Icy roads were even more of a threat in the western and northern suburbs, where the freezing rain could last all morning. In some spots, fog and mist were limiting visibility.

Parts farther north, like the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, could have problems with freezing rain well into the afternoon, said National Weather Service meteorologist Anthony Gigi.

Speed restrictions were imposed this morning on bridges and turnpikes. (For traffic updates, go to www.philly.com/traffic.)

A quarter-inch or more of ice accumulation was possible, mainly on colder surfaces like cars, trees and poles.

Despite reports of some downed trees and wires, PECO has been able to keep up with its normal crews, a spokeswoman said.

Getting a wintry mix is actually more typical - and often more hazardous - than the all-snow storms of the last couple of years.

"It's tough on everyone - to forecast, to treat, to drive through," said Gigi, with the weather service's in Mount Holly office.

For more on the forecast, go to http://go.philly.com/weather.