Erie Region Continues to Get Pounded by Snow, Breaks Snowfall Record for City

ERIE, Pa. (EYT) – Records have been shattered for the Erie area and Pennsylvania after more than five feet of snow fell in the city from Christmas Eve to Tuesday evening – and it’s not over.

[Photo above: Patrick Harden clears snow from the roof of his car on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, in Erie, Pa. The National Weather Service office in Cleveland says Monday’s storm brought 34 inches of snow, an all-time daily snowfall record for Erie. Another 19 inches fell before dawn Tuesday, making the greatest two-day total in commonwealth history. (Greg Wohlford/Erie Times-News via AP)]

From Christmas Eve to Tuesday night, Erie received 60.5 inches of snow.

The City of Erie has declared a Snow Emergency. Roads are dangerous and impassable.

The city released the following statement: “This is an incredible amount of snow that we’re trying to move and appreciate resident cooperation. Residents should stay off of City of Erie streets until it stops snowing, and we can get the roads open. City plows have been out since the beginning of this storm, and we will continue to plow throughout Tuesday.”

Governor Tom Wolf has declared a State of Emergency for the City of Erie. Last night he announced that 21 Pennsylvania National Guard (PNG) troops have been put on State Active Duty in northwestern Pennsylvania after a record amount of snow fell across the area over the last several days.

“Our National Guard members are trained to assist the citizens of our commonwealth during severe winter storms like Erie is experiencing right now,” said Governor Wolf. “We are very fortunate that they live and work in our communities and are able to mobilize on short notice in order to provide the manpower and equipment needed in northwestern PA.”

The PNG is providing a number of high clearance all-terrain military vehicles to aid local agencies with medical emergency and law enforcement response, assisting with safety and wellness checks, transporting essential emergency services personnel, and assigning a liaison to the Erie County Emergency Operations Center.

According to the National Weather Service based in Cleveland, Erie received 34 inches of snow on Christmas day, a new daily snowfall record, eclipsing one that had stood for more than half a century.

Erie 1
(Photo courtesy AccuWeather.com)

NWS Cleveland reported the 34 inches broke the previous mark of 20 inches that fell on the city November 22, 1956. The greatest three-day total in Erie was 30.2 inches, which fell from December 29 to December 31, 2002. The seven-day record was 39.8 inches, from December 27 to January 2, 2002.

The previous state mark was 44 inches of snow that fell in Morgantown, March 20 to March 21, 1958.

The winter storm has also broken a 13-day snowfall record for Erie. The previous mark was 52.8 inches that was recorded December 31, 1998, to January 12, 1999.

NWS has issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning through 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Temperatures are forecast in the mid to upper teens with wind chills below 0 through Wednesday.

According to goerie.com, the scene was largely quiet Tuesday morning except for Erie Transit Authority buses passing vacant bus shelters with cleaned sidewalks separated from plowed streets by mounds of snow at shoulder height.

The Pa. Department of Transportation also issued commercial vehicle restrictions on Interstates 86 and 90 in Erie County.

The restriction is in place for Interstate 86 and Interstate 90 from the New York state line to the Interstate 79 interchange. Included in the restriction are lightly-loaded or empty semi-trucks, double trailers, recreational vehicles, non-commercial vehicles towing trailers, and motorcycles.

90
(Photo courtesy AccuWeather.com)

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on Interstate 90, Interstate 86, and Interstate 79. Speed reductions in Crawford and Mercer counties have been lifted.

The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.

For more winter driving information, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter.


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