Lake-Effect Snow — Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

2018-11-09 to 2018-11-10 · Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

An area of low pressure moved through the eastern Great Lakes on the evening of November 9. Cold air wrapping behind the system allowed for rain to change over to snow and for lake effect snow showers to develop over an open Lake Erie. Snow began late on the 9th and continued through the late evening of the 10th. The most organized lake effect snow bands and heaviest snow fell in the morning hours of the 10th, as 10 to 12 inches of snow was reported by late morning in the hills south of Interstate 90. Snow during this event primarily impacted the northern half of Erie County. A maximum total of 20 inches of snow was recorded in Greenfield Township in eastern Erie County. Erie International Airport reported a total of 14.1 inches of snow during the entire event. Other selected storm totals include: 9.7 inches in Lake City, 9 inches in Harborcreek, and 8 inches in the borough of North East. Winds were fairly gusty during this event with wind speeds gusting to 35 mph during the late morning hours. Whiteout conditions caused significant traffic issues on local interstates and US highways.

Wider weather episode

An area of low pressure moved through the eastern Great Lakes on the evening of November 9. Cold air wrapping behind the system allowed for rain to change over to snow and for lake effect snow showers to develop over an open Lake Erie. Snow began late on the 9th and continued through the late evening of the 10th. The most organized lake effect snow bands and heaviest snow fell in the morning hours of the 10th, as 10 to 12 inches of snow was reported by late morning in the hills south of Interstate 90. Snow during this event primarily impacted the northern half of Erie County. A maximum total of 20 inches of snow was recorded in Greenfield Township in eastern Erie County. Erie International Airport reported a total of 14.1 inches of snow during the entire event. Other selected storm totals include: 16.8 inches in Colt Station, 15.8 inches in North East Township, 12.5 in Greene Township, 9.7 inches in Lake City, 9 inches in McKean, Harborcreek, and Wattsburg, and 8 inches in the borough of North East. Winds were fairly gusty during this event with wind speeds gusting to 35 mph during the late morning hours. Whiteout conditions caused significant traffic issues on local interstates and US highways.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 794548. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.