Winter Storm — Northern Centre, Pennsylvania

2012-12-26 to 2012-12-27 · Northern Centre, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Widespread snow accumulations between 6 and 8 inches were observed across the county. The snow mixed with sleet at times during the afternoon before ending as a period of light freezing drizzle.

Wider weather episode

The first significant winter storm of the 2012-2013 season brought a mixed-bag of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain to central Pennsylvania on December 26th. A primary surface low over the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys redeveloped east of the Appalachians and tracked northeast across the Delmarva and northern Mid-Atlantic coast. The snow began shortly after sunrise in the southwest and spread northward during the day. The snow and mixed precipitation tapered off in the west during the evening and in the east overnight.

Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 8-10 inches north of I-80; 6-8 inches over central and southwest sections; 3-5 inches in the middle Susquehanna Valley and 1-3 inches over the lower Susquehanna Valley. The highest snow accumulation was recorded in Coudersport (Potter County) at 15 inches. The snow changed to sleet and freezing rain, then to plain rain over the lower Susquehanna Valley during the afternoon. The precipitation type transition to sleet and freezing rain occurred later in the day and evening hour over middle Susquehanna Valley as well as the central mountains. The mixed precipitation limited the snow accumulations. During the evening, thundersnow was witnessed in the State College area as a strong banded feature moved northward over north-central Pennsylvania.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 418808. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.