Lake-Effect Snow — Southern Erie, Pennsylvania

2020-01-18 to 2020-01-19 · Southern Erie, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Low pressure over northern Lower Michigan on the afternoon of January 18th moved east through the Great Lakes region and extended a cold front through Northwest Pennsylvania during the evening hours. With the front, scattered snow showers moved over the region, bringing light accumulations through the morning hours of the 19th. Lake effect snow became more organized during the day on the 19th with northwest flow setting up over the region. A multi-band lake effect snow event developed over the region with a dominant band originating upstream over Lake Huron and this band had snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour. This band swept east to west over Northwest Pennsylvania during the late morning and early afternoon hours of the 19th before completely exiting just after sunset. The highest snow total for this event was 15 inches in Greenfield Township. Other selected event totals include: 14.5 inches in Greene Township, 13 inches in North East Township, 12 inches in Corry, 10.5 inches in Edinboro, and 8.1 inches in Union City.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure over northern Lower Michigan on the afternoon of January 18th moved east through the Great Lakes region and extended a cold front through Northwest Pennsylvania during the evening hours. With the front, scattered snow showers moved over the region, bringing light accumulations through the morning hours of the 19th. Lake effect snow became more organized during the day on the 19th with northwest flow setting up over the region. A multi-band lake effect snow event developed over the region with a dominant band originating upstream over Lake Huron and this band had snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour. This band swept east to west over Northwest Pennsylvania during the late morning and early afternoon hours of the 19th before completely exiting just after sunset. The highest snow total for this event was 15 inches in Greenfield Township. Other selected event totals include: 14.5 inches in Greene Township, 13 inches in North East Township, 12 inches in Corry, 11.3 inches at Canadohta Lake, 11 inches in Harborcreek, 10.6 inches at Erie International Airport, 10.3 inches in Cambridge Springs, 8.5 inches in Meadville, and 6.5 inches in Lake City.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 874102. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.