One to two inches of snow fell in Philadelphia and in Pittsburgh, but the timing made getting to work a hassle. Highways were generally clear but some minor crashes were reported on slippery secondary roads in and around both cities.
The National Weather Service said the storm moved through the area faster than predicted, but another small storm system could drop another inch or two of snow as it crosses the region Saturday.
Steve Chizmar, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said no major problems were reported across the state Friday, even though it was the first snowfall in many areas and drivers were "honing their winter driving skills."
"For the most part, it wasn't really a major storm," he said.
Dozens of school districts in central Pennsylvania delayed opening along with a few in the Philadelphia metro area.
Snow totals ranged from around three to four inches in the Lehigh Valley and Pocono Mountains.
Philadelphia International Airport was open, but there were some delays because other airports held back their Philadelphia-bound flights during the height of the storm, airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica said.
New Jersey activated its emergency operations center at 6 am Friday to coordinate a response to the storm.
State Police say there will be more troopers out on state roads Friday to assist plow drivers.
Usually, troopers focus on the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike and Atlantic City Expressway.
Spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones tells The Star-Ledger of Newark that troopers will also focus on trouble spots from last month's storm - Routes 80, 78 and 280 - where more than 500 motorists became stranded; that storm dropped nearly three feet of snow in some parts.
Gov. Chris Christie, who was criticized for vacationing at Disney World during the last storm, joked that he would be out "shoveling myself ... that's the state's plan," - a mocking reference to Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who personally helped dig people out during the last storm.
