Pennsylvania, 1999

Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, March 3 to 4, 1999

March 3 to 4, 1999 · NWS PBZ · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A deepening area of low pressure moved across northern West Virginia and into central Pennsylvania, spreading snowfall totals of between 2 and 5 inches across much of western Pennsylvania, with higher snowfall totals reported across the western slopes of the Laurel Highlands. Champion, in the highlands of eastern Westmoreland County, reported a total of 16 inches from the storm.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.

A deepening area of low pressure moved across northern West Virginia and into central Pennsylvania, spreading snowfall totals of between 2 and 5 inches across much of western Pennsylvania, with higher snowfall totals reported across the western slopes of the Laurel Highlands. Champion, in the highlands of eastern Westmoreland County, reported a total of 16 inches from the storm. Elsewhere in Westmoreland County, 10 inches fell in Greensburg, 9 inches in New Stanton and 8 inches in both Derry and Rector. In Fayette County, 12 inches of snow fell in Chalk Hill, 9.5 inches in Farmington, and 8 inches in both Everson and Hopwood. Snowfall totals were generally between 6 and 8 inches across the remainder of Clarion, Forest, Indiana and Jefferson Counties.To compound problems, high winds gusting to over 60 MPH during the early morning hours of the 4th downed numerous trees and disrupted power across portions of Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland Counties.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Jefferson

When
March 3, 7:00 PM EST to March 4, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
41.128, -78.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Westmoreland

When
March 3, 7:00 PM EST to March 4, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Westmoreland forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER

Winter Storm, Clarion

When
March 3, 7:00 PM EST to March 4, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Clarion forecast zone
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
41.192, -79.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Fayette

When
March 3, 7:00 PM EST to March 4, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Fayette forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER

Winter Storm, Forest

When
March 3, 7:00 PM EST to March 4, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Forest forecast zone
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
41.513, -79.236 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Indiana

When
March 3, 7:00 PM EST to March 4, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Indiana forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, March 1999

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5688436, 5688437, 5689054, 5689055, 5689056, 5689057.