An official level of 22 inches of new snow fell on the Williamsport area this weekend and another several inches are expected.

Official weather service records indicate the snowstorm is the worst since a record 23 inches fell in a 24-hour period in January 1964.

Heavy snow warnings are still in effect for the Lycoming and Clinton County area and serious snow drifting is expected to add to hazardous travel conditions.

Drifting could cause transportation tie-ups for the next several days, but the Washington’s Birthday holiday Monday is expected to ease traffic conditions.

Reacting early Saturday to the severe storm, Mayor John R. Coder declared a state of emergency. Buses were pulled off the street and citizens were advised to remain home unless in emergency situations. City police answered any emergency calls for transportation.

Tree limbs blocked walkways and portions of roadways in many parts of the city. Sporadic power failures blackened several areas.

To help clear city streets all city workers recently furloughed were called back to man equipment to fight the storm.

Ordinarily busy streets were transformed into white, quiet walkways shared by infrequent cars and clusters of pedestrians trying to avoid the knee-deep snow.

Downtown merchants never opened up Saturday morning as the snow piled up in the early morning hours.

Most streets were passable, but parking proved a problem with the deep snow lining the curbs.

Snow fell throughout the state, but apparently the Williamsport-Lock Haven area took the brunt of the storm.

Drifting posed no problem along the West Branch Valley floor because of a lack of winds, but in other areas the wind whipped the snow into huge piles.