High Wind in Mifflin, Pennsylvania

A period of high winds throughout the evening hours of February 16, 2025 into the early morning hours of February 17th was observed at Mifflin County Airport, with winds peaking at 64 mph between 2am and 4am on February 17th. A period of strong winds also occurred throughout the early afternoon hours of February 16, 2025.

A strong area of low pressure west of Pennsylvania during the evening hours of February 15, 2025 slowly drifted eastward into central Pennsylvania throughout the day on February 16th. The area of low pressure began to stall out across central Pennsylvania and deepen, allowing for an increased pressure gradient to set up across the area, with ample moisture being advected from the Atlantic Ocean under easterly winds. This allowed for widespread snow showers to begin across central Pennsylvania on February 16th during the early morning hours and continuing into the evening hours. Strong to high winds were observed across central Pennsylvania, highest across the Laurel Highlands with descending westerly flow from higher elevations and the Lower Susquehanna Valley near the tightening pressure gradient as the low pressure system continued to strengthen as it began moving offshore the New Jersey coast. In Somerset County, a combination of upslope moist flow and the tightening pressure gradient caused multiple hours of low visibilities from snowfall and blowing snow along with multiple hours with winds gusting over 40 mph, meeting blizzard conditions during the evening hours of February 16th. Damage from winds was observed across the Lower Susquehanna Valley, along with Bedford and Blair Counties where downsloping winds knocked down multiple trees and wires, knocking out power for portions of these counties.