No Joke: April Fools' Storm Brings Down Tree Limbs, Wires

Do April snow showers bring May flowers, too?

The winter that refuses to quit brought a late-season snowstorm to the area Friday, blanketing North Reading with a few inches of heavy, wet snow and bringing down tree limbs and wires in some parts of town.

Between three and four inches of snow had fallen in North Reading by mid-morning. According to the National Weather Service, 4.5 inches of snow were on the ground in Wilmington.

The snow did not affect the opening of on Friday, although some area districts did experience delays.

The heavy, wet snow caused wires and trees to sag around town. Police began receiving reports of low-hanging wires on Winter Street around midnight Friday, and low-hanging tree limbs on electric lines in the area of Marshall Street and Laurel Road made the roadway impassable for a period of time, according to police reports.

Police and the also responded to reports of a tree limb falling on a wire and sparking a fire on Tower Hill Road shortly before 8:30 a.m.

The incident knocked out power to some homes in the area. Crews from Reading Municipal Light Department responded to restore power and had cleared the scene by 10 a.m.

Police also responded to a two-car accident on Hill Street shortly after 8 a.m. Friday. No injuries were reported.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect for the area until 8 p.m. Friday. According to the National Weather Service, snow showers could redevelop mid-day Friday, causing untreated roadways to be covered with a layer of slush.

Snow showers should end early Friday evening, the weather service said. Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be sunny, with highs near 50 degrees.