Lake-Effect Snow — Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

2021-01-17 to 2021-01-18 · Northern Erie, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

A surface trough over the eastern Great Lakes region allowed for light lake effect snow showers to develop during the late afternoon on January 17th. As colder air aloft and better surface convergence developed over eastern Lake Erie, lake effect snow became more organized into a single band during the early morning hours of the 18th. This band pushed into Northwest Pennsylvania before dawn and snowfall rates increased to one inch per hour across Erie County. As the band became more organized, snowfall rates increased briefly to 2 inches per hour and visibility decreased to a quarter mile or less through the late morning and early afternoon hours. By late afternoon on the 18th, snow began diminishing across the area and quickly ended by evening. The highest snow total for this event for the northern portion of Erie County was 17 inches in the city of Erie. Other selected storm total snowfall amounts include: 14 inches at Erie International Airport, 8.7 inches in Lake City, 8.5 inches in North East, and 7.1 inches in Harborcreek.

Wider weather episode

A surface trough over the eastern Great Lakes region allowed for light lake effect snow showers to develop during the late afternoon on January 17th. As colder air aloft and better surface convergence developed over eastern Lake Erie, lake effect snow became more organized into a single band during the early morning hours of the 18th. This band pushed into Northwest Pennsylvania before dawn and snowfall rates increased to one inch per hour across Erie County. As the band became more organized, snowfall rates increased briefly to 2 inches per hour and visibility decreased to a quarter mile or less through the late morning and early afternoon hours. Snowfall became so intense that an accident involving a jack-knifed tractor trailer occurred on Interstate 90 in North East Township and closed the highway for several hours. No deaths or injuries were reported with this accident or at all during the snow event. By late afternoon on the 18th, snow began diminishing across the area and quickly ended by evening. The highest snow total for this event was 19 inches in Greenfield Township. Other selected storm total snowfall amounts include: 18 inches in North East Township, 17.5 inches in Greene Township, 17 inches in the city of Erie, 14 inches at Erie International Airport, 11.3 inches in Millcreek Township, 9.6 inches in Summit Township, 8.7 inches in Lake City, 8.5 inches in North East, 7.5 inches in Corry, 7.1 inches in Harborcreek, 6.5 inches in McKean, 5 inches in Edinboro, and 4 inches in Union City.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 938270. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.