From weather to traffic to high school hijinks, a look at stories that drew the greatest audience on lehighvalleylive.com.
They all weren't necessarily the biggest stories of 2016, but they certainly are ones that captivated people's attention on lehighvalleylive.com and social media.
Here's a rundown, in ascending order, of the stories and topics that were among the most-read and most-viewed of the year.
13.) Political passion
Anti-Trump protesters shout in Centre Square in Easton. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com) How could a look at the past year not include a story that for months dominated headlines -- and still divides Americans?
On Nov. 12, the first Saturday after the stunning triumph by President-elect Donald Trump, dueling rallies were held in Easton's Centre Square with pro-Trump and anti-Trump forces occupying space. It was mostly peaceful, but there was plenty of shouting and horn-honking going on.
12.) Long-range forecast
If politics isn't your thing, maybe the weather is. Storms, snow, forecasts. They're among the most popular stories of the day each time they're posted. By early fall, folks apparently were already looking forward to the winter season. A Sept. 28 story about AccuWeather's long-range forecast for winter was shared 74,000 times on social media. The outlook, in case you haven't been paying attention? Above-average snowfall and a lot of storms.
11.) Spray-painted rivalry
The Easton-Phillipsburg high school football rivalry celebrated its 110th year in 2016. While the rivalry has featured highs and lows over the years, rivalry week started on a low note as vandals struck Easton Area High School, spray-painting walls and defacing a monument in front of the school. Phillipsburg students responsible were identified but not punished through the court system, officials said. Instead, they were asked to cover the cleanup cost.
10.) I-78 whiteout
A fierce snow squall on Feb. 13 created whiteout conditions on Interstate 78 in Lebanon County, Pa. The result was a 50-car pileup with three fatalities and dozens injured. A two-mile stretch of highway was closed for most of the day.
Jeff Kline, of Macungie, was traveling with his 8-year-old son when the storm hit. "Everything happened so fast," he said. "I guess if you weren't there, you'll never understand how crazy it was."
9.) Close call
Thankfully, everyone survived a freak crash on College Hill in Easton on June 16. A collision sent a Volvo through a fence and down a steep embankment that on normal days provides a picturesque view of the Downtown area and Phillipsburg. The family of four -- they had just left a funeral service -- escaped the wreckage by crawling through the car's sun roof and climbing up the hill back to College Avenue.
8.) Fiery wreck claims 3 lives
Terrell Barclay (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com) Tragedy struck May 6 on Willow Park Road in Bethlehem Township, as authorities said a speeding car careened out of control and crashed in flames. Three passengers died in the early-morning wreck. The lone survivor, 27-year-old alleged driver Terrell Barclay, suffered serious burns and is charged with three counts of vehicular homicide.
7.) Communities join in mourning
Tommy Poynton Jr. was a teacher, coach and family man who perished when authorities said he was electrocuted by a power line that fell on his Williams Township property July 26. The 32-year-old was a three-sport athlete in his years at Wilson Area High School and later taught and coached football at Palisades High School. When the two rival teams played in a football game Sept. 2, they paid tribute in what they dubbed the inaugural Poynton Community Classic -- a game and a memorial that they plan to reprise year after year to remember the young husband and father's passion.
6.) Looks like a million bucks
Real estate is another page-churner on lehighvalleylive.com, and a Dec. 5 story and photo gallery of an Easton home for sale for $1.2 million drew a large audience. The majestic, Tudor-style manor tucked at 609 Weygadt Drive was built in 1921 and was the longtime home of Easton philanthropist and Red Cross supporter Emily Baer Knapp.
5.) 'The ultimate volunteer'
Eskil 'Scott' Danielson (Courtesy photo)It seemed like Scott Danielson had his hands in everything. He was a supervisor with Warren County Communications and served years as a rescue squad member and dispatcher in Sussex County, N.J., and elsewhere. The 49-year-old from Andover died Jan. 16 of a heart attack while answering a crash call that involved his 19-year-old daughter. The day of his funeral, he was described as "the ultimate volunteer," and the hundreds who turned out to mourn his passing attested to that.
4.) Phillipsburg explosion
On June 4, an explosion rocked a Phillipsburg neighborhood and blew two homes to bits. The blast leveled 74 and 76 Filmore St. A 37-year-old resident was hospitalized with burns over half of his body but survived. The Warren County Prosecutor's Office has yet to announce a cause for the explosion. In August, Phillipsburg Mayor Stephen Ellis said at least one possible cause was ruled out. Investigators determined the gas line connection from the street to the building was not the source, he said.
3.) A brand new high school
It's been called the jewel on the hill. A gleaming new Phillipsburg High School welcomed students in September for the 2016-17 school year. The $127.5 million project actually is in Greenwich Township, but not far from the old high school that was converted for middle school use. The 326,000-square-foot school includes a beautiful gym and media center, a 1,000-seat auditorium and three computer labs. The project was overseen and paid for through the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. "Not only are (students) going to get a first-rate education because the teaching staff is as good as it is here, but now they have a facility that is going to match that staff," said development authority CEO Charles McKenna during a Sept. 7 visit. "All this is going to benefit the students."
2.) A tornado strikes
Warren County got the worst of a summer storm that blackened skies and ripped through the region July 14. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down just after 2:45 p.m. that day, leveling a barn, cutting power to thousands and leaving debris in its wake. Farmer Tom Smith dove under his front deck for cover as the twister descended on his White Township property. "This was no storm," he said about 30 minutes after a powerful band swept across central Warren County. "I saw that black cloud coming across the field and it was turning. It was twisting."
1.) High school intimidation
This story was shocking on its face but took on new life as it spread wildly across social media. While some unrelated multimedia slideshows garnered more page views, this was the most-viewed single article of 2016. Southern Lehigh High School gained international notoriety in November after Principal Christine Siegfried sent a letter to parents saying students yelled gay slurs and the n-word in the halls, called black students "cotton pickers" and used heil Hitler salutes. Students involved were disciplined, officials said. "Our student body is an extremely supportive and collaborative student body," school district Superintendent Kathleen Evison said. "This is very unusual for us to hear this kind of language and, obviously, very disturbing."
Haven't had enough? Here are some other popular posts that readers helped to make 2016 the most successful ever for lehighvalleylive.com:
Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.