Lake-Effect Snow — Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

2025-02-20 to 2025-02-21 · Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

A surface trough developed over the Great Lakes on February 20th and lingered into February 21st before surface high pressure worked into the region. The trough focused cold, west-northwest flow across the partially unfrozen waters of Lake Erie, allowing for lake effect snow into Northwest Pennsylvania. This snow began organizing early on the 20th with peak rates during the day and through the evening on the 20th, when snow rates of up to 1 inch per hour occurred. With temperatures in the 10s to low 20s, this snow led to reduced visibility as low as one-quarter of a mile and snow-covered roads. Accidents were reported, with I-90 westbound closed at Exit 16 during the morning of the 20th due to a multi-vehicle accident. This accident resulted in two injuries. Snow gradually lessened in intensity overnight into the morning of the 21st. A peak snowfall of 8 inches was reported by a trained spotter in Harborcreek, with 7.8 inches in Northeast, 7.5 inches in Northwest Harborcreek, and 6.8 inches in Erie. Erie International Airport measured 4.5 inches of snow with this storm.

Wider weather episode

A surface trough developed over the Great Lakes on February 20th and lingered into February 21st before surface high pressure worked into the region. The trough focused cold, west-northwest flow across the partially unfrozen waters of Lake Erie, allowing for lake effect snow into Northwest Pennsylvania. This snow began organizing early on the 20th with peak rates during the day and through the evening on the 20th, when snow rates of up to 1 inch per hour occurred. With temperatures in the 10s to low 20s, this snow led to reduced visibility as low as one-quarter of a mile and snow-covered roads. Accidents were reported, with I-90 closed for a period of time during the morning of the 20th near Girard due to a multi-car accident. Snow gradually lessened in intensity overnight into the morning of the 21st. A peak snowfall of 11.5 inches was reported by a trained spotter in Edinboro, with 11 inches also reported in Greenfield and West Springfield Townships. 9.5 inches was reported in Millcreek, with 8 inches in Harborcreek, 7.8 inches in North East, 7.5 inches Northwest Harborcreek, and 6.8 inches in Erie.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1267322. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.