Vast differences stressed

Tone turns ominous at The Weather Channel

<b>First Posted:</b> 10/30/2012<br><br>ASHLEY - Firefighters removed a large tree that toppled onto Hazleton Street early Tuesday morning, one of many trees that fell from high winds. 

The National Weather Service in Binghamton, N.Y., is reporting at least one death in Pennsylvania linked to Tropical Storm Sandy. 

A tree limb fell and struck a child in New Milford, Susquehanna County, Monday night. The child died from injuries. 

Luzerne County appears to have escaped significant damage from the storm with mostly fallen trees and electrical outages. There were no reports of flooding Tuesday morning. 

The forecast for the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre has changed several times over the last several days. It is currently estimated to reach 12.9 feet early Thursday morning, according to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. 

The river had been predicted to reach 17 feet, which was changed to just below 8 feet, before the latest river forecast was released Tuesday morning. 

A traffic signal at South Main and Blackman street, Wilkes-Barre, became detached. It hung from its wires from the support pole. A city fire truck was parked in the left lane preventing northbound traffic from traveling under the hanging signal. 

A large tree fell onto Hazleton Street, which links state Route 309 to Main Street in Ashley. Firefighters responded to remove the toppled tree just before 3:30 a.m. The tree pulled down utility lines that serves a trailer park. 

Multiple trees toppled in the Hunlock Township area, according to NWS storm reports. It's the same problem on Alberdeen Road in Dorrance Township and on North Mountain Road in Lehman with trees blocking roadways. 

The fascade at Chris Rics Irish Pub on Barney Street, Wilkes-Barre, was damaged by high wind. Pieces of the aluminum fascade were hanging from the building and littered the sidewalk and Barney Street. 

A large tree behind a house on Boland Avenue, Hanover Township, fell onto two vehicles. 

UGI Electric reported at 9:30 a.m. that 17,492 customers were without service, mostly in the Back Mountain and Sweet Valley area of Luzerne County. 

PPL reported at 4 a.m. that 395,481 customers in 28 counties were without electrical service, including 22,379 customers in Luzerne County. 

Throughout the Wyoming Valley, garbage cans and household trash littered roads from high winds. Several signs were blown over at the Crossroads in Hanover Township and along state Route 11 in Larksville and Edwardsville. 

A house roof in Jermyn, Lackawanna County, was blown away, the weather service reported. 

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports the following road closures due to downed trees and utility lines: 

Nescopeck Borough: State Route 93 is closed from Miner Street to River Road due to a downed utility pole. Anticipated reopening is 8 a.m. 

Kingston Township: Manor/Dug Road is closed in both directiions from Terrace Avenue to Carverton Road due to drainage issues. Anticipated reopening is 12 p.m. 

Dorrance Township: South Main Road is closed in both directions from Hunter Highway, Butler Township, to Blue Ridge Trail due to downed utility lines. 

Plymouth Township: Hartman Road is closed in both directions from White Oak Drive to Redmond Road in Lehman due to downed electrical wires. Anticipated reopening is 12 p.m. 

Fairmount Township: Bethel Hill Road is closed in both directions from Johnston/Talcott Hill Road to Booth Road is closed due to downed trees. Anticipated reopening is 12 p.m. 

Huntington Township: Marsh Creek Road is closed in both directions from Daro Road and Cemetery Hill Road due to downed utility pole. Anticipated reopening is 12 p.m.

High winds topple trees, utility wires