Lakeshore Flood — Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

2020-02-27 · Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Low pressure over the Ohio Valley deepened as it moved northeastward towards upstate New York producing strong westerly gales on Lake Erie for Thursday with 30 to 40 mph winds and gusts up to 50 mph. High wave action with onshore flow produced some minor lakeshore erosion and flooding in Erie Pennsylvania. Local news reported water over Dobbins Landing and several marinas in Presque Isle and the shoreline of the City of Erie. Minor flooding and beach erosion occurred in Presque Isle State Park.

On the afternoon and evening of the 27th, the water level at Erie PA (NOAA/NOS/CO-OPs station 9063038) reached 575.49 feet, or 6.5 feet (78 inches) above normal lake levels.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure over the Ohio Valley on the evening of the 26th moved northeast across the central Appalachians, bringing some system snowfall to the region on the night of the 26th into the 27th. As low pressure departed the eastern Great Lakes region on the 27th, wrap-around cold air allowed for lake effect snow to develop over the mostly ice-free waters of the Great Lakes. Multi-banded lake effect snow from Lakes Erie and Huron developed in the northwest flow over the region and the shallow nature of the snow allowed for light snow accumulations on the 27th and the first half of the 28th. Lake effect snow became more organized and convective in-nature on the 28th and by the evening hours, a Lake Huron connected band focused in on Northwest Pennsylvania, allowing for a period of 12 hours of moderate-to-heavy snowfall. Snow finally diminished by the late morning hours of the 29th. While snow occurred for three and a half days over the region, much of the snowfall occurred on the evening of the 28th through the morning of the 29th in Northwest Pennsylvania. The highest snow total for this event was 21.5 inches in Corry. Other selected event totals include: 20.9 inches in Cambridge Springs, 20 inches in Edinboro, 19.3 inches in Union City, 16 inches in Greenfield and North East Townships, 15 inches in Greene Township, 12.2 inches in Amity Township, 11.5 inches in Meadville, and 10.4 inches in Springboro.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 877708. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.