Pennsylvania and the states that neighbor it were hit by a snow storm and cold weather. The cold weather and cold created ice on the local rivers. The Alleghney river that flows through Parker and Foxburg was thick with ice and did not melt as the ice on the Allegheny river did as it flowed through East Brady.

The ice made the river look like a field covered in snow not a river covered with ice and snow. The only time you would notice the difference was where the water had managed to break through the ice and lay on top. The iron bridge that crosses into Foxburg had ice piled up against the supports but as the weather eased it broke away.