Lake-Effect Snow — Southern Erie, Pennsylvania

2025-01-03 to 2025-01-04 · Southern Erie, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Behind a cold front that crossed early in the morning on January 3, 2025, west-northwest winds ushered in colder air across Lake Erie, setting up another round of lake effect snow showers and squalls across Northwest Pennsylvania. The lake effect activity was most intense from late morning through the evening on January 3rd, with activity gradually winding down on January 4th and tapering to flurries or light snow showers January 4th into January 5th. Event total accumulations reached heavy snow criteria across the area, which along with wind gusts of 20 to 30 MPH led to a prolonged period of poor travel conditions due to periods of reduced visibility and snow-covered roads. The heaviest snow and worst travel conditions occurred during the day and early evening on January 3rd. A CoCoRaHS observer in Corry measured 10.9 inches of snow with this storm. Selected reports from trained spotters, covering snowfall from early in the morning on January 3rd through the morning of January 4th, include: 9.5 inches in Edinboro, 9 inches in Millcreek Township, 8 inches in Union City and 8 inches in both Greene and Greenfield Townships.

Wider weather episode

Behind a cold front that crossed early in the morning on January 3, 2025, west-northwest winds ushered in colder air across Lake Erie, setting up another round of lake effect snow showers and squalls across Northwest Pennsylvania. The lake effect activity was most intense from late morning through the evening on January 3rd, with activity gradually winding down on January 4th and tapering to flurries or light snow showers January 4th into January 5th. Event total accumulations reached heavy snow criteria across inland Northwest Pennsylvania, which along with wind gusts of 20 to 30 MPH led to a prolonged period of poor travel conditions due to periods of reduced visibility and snow-covered roads. A peak snowfall of 14.4 inches was measured by a trained spotter in Greenwood Township, with a Co-op Observer near Springboro measuring 10.8 inches. A CoCoRaHS observer in Corry recorded 10.9 inches of snow, with 9.5 inches measured by a spotter in Edinboro.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1267291. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.