Lake-Effect Snow — Mckean, Pennsylvania

2025-11-27 to 2025-11-29 · Mckean, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Heavy lake effect snow began across northern McKean County during the morning hours of November 27th and continued into the early morning hours of November 29, 2025. The heaviest snowfall across the region was observed mainly during the evening hours of November 27th and through the morning hours of November 28th, where upwards of 11 inches of snowfall was observed by the COOP Observer in Bradford. A couple of lake effect snow bands continued across the county throughout the afternoon and evening hours of November 28th before light snow began to taper off during the overnight hours into November 29th, adding approximately one inch of snowfall. There were multiple snowfall reports in McKean County of one foot observed near Bradford, including the COOP Observer near the city.

Wider weather episode

A potent area of low pressure across the northern Great Lakes tracking into southern Canada allowed for enhanced westerly flow to begin during the early morning hours of November 27, 2025. This westerly flow promoted lake effect snow to occur across northwestern Pennsylvania during the early morning hours that continued throughout the day. The cold front associated with this area of low pressure tracked across the region during the morning and afternoon hours of November 28th, with ample instability and lift allowing for snow squalls to form across western Pennsylvania before moving into slightly more stable air and lowering the snow squall threat across south-central and eastern Pennsylvania. Visibilities within snow squalls were near-zero with multiple accidents observed due to icy road conditions as roadway temperatures above freezing dropped below freezing. Cold temperatures in the wake of the cold front allowed for continued icy roadways across Clearfield County, where multiple additional accidents were observed. Westerly flow in the wake of the cold front allowed for continued lake effect snow showers through the early morning hours of November 29th, when flow shifted more southwesterly, pushing lake effect snow into New York State.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1296346. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.