Lakeshore Flood — Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

2020-04-13 to 2020-04-14 · Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

A strong cold front swept east across Lake Erie behind a departing low pressure system during the early morning hours of the 13th. Strong west winds up to 45 knots developed over Lake Erie on Monday. These winds, along with high lake water levels and waves of 10 to 15 feet, supported high water rises along the Lake Erie shoreline.

On the afternoon of the 13th, the water level at Erie PA (NOAA/NOS/CO-OPs station 9063038) reached 576.21 feet, or 7.2 feet (87 inches) above normal lake levels. Major flood level for Presque Isle State Park is 576 feet, at which point the peninsula was cut off from the mainland. Park Rangers reported significant beach erosion and subsidence and damage of flooded park roads. Wave run-up on the shoreline and over breakwalls caused severe erosion and minor damage to numerous Erie County shoreline properties from the City of Erie to the Village of North East. Emergency repairs were needed to property seawalls protecting homes. East Dobbins Landing in Erie was underwater with significant property damage to a local business.

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure system moved through the Ohio Valley on Monday, April 13 and extended a cold front across northwestern Pennsylvania on the afternoon of the 13th. With the cold frontal passage, strong winds mixed down to the surface, resulting in wind gusts of 45 to 60 mph across the area. Some tree damage occurred and power lines were downed as a result of the strong winds.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 890865. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.