Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 5, 2002

Name: Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 5, 2002
Start: 2002-12-05T03:00
End: 2002-12-05T15:00
Location: Pennsylvania

December 5, 2002 · NWS CTP · 36 events in 36 counties and zones

36 heavy snow, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 36 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 36

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 4, 6:50 PM EST, 8 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 4, 6:50 PM EST, 8 hours 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
650 PM EST WED DEC 4 2002

...WL EXPAND WINT WX ADV TO INCL SOMERSET AND BEDFORD COS AND UP
NUMS ELSEWHERE...

WL MAKE AN UPD TO MENTION BIGGER SF NUMS IN MOST OF FA...ESP ALONG
SRWN BORDER...WHERE CURR IR ENHANCEMENT LOOKS TO PASS DIRECTLY OVHD.
THUS WILL PUT SOMERSET AND BEDFORD COS INTO A NEW GROUP AND BUMP
THEM UP TO ADV SNOWFALL (2 TO 4). WL ALSO UP THE NUMBERS (AROUND AN
INCH MORE) FOR REST OF FA. THIS WILL MESH WITH OUR NEIGHBORS BETTER
AS WELL. WL HOLD WARNING AREA WHERE IT IS CURR.

WHILE 18Z ETA RUN MAY BE OVERDONE (AS MOST INTERMEDIARY ETA RUNS
SEEM TO BE) WITH THE NEW QPF NUMS...IT IS HARD TO IGNORE THE 0.54
OF QPF IT CRANKS OUT AT KAOO. SIMILAR INCREASES ARE SEEN THROUGH OUR
ENTIRE FA. 18Z MM5 PUTS THE 0.25 STRIPE OF QPF ACCUM THRU
BLOOMSBURG...STATE COLLEGE AND EBENSBURG. THE 0.5 STRIPE EVEN
WIGGLES AS FAR NORTH AS CONFLUENCE...KHGR AND LNS. WITH S/W RATIOS
OF 12:1 OR EVEN 15:1 (OWEING TO HOW DRY AND COLD WE WILL BE THRU
THE EVENT)...I MUST UP THE NUMBERS A BIT NOW. MID SHIFT MAY SEE
THEMSELVES UPPING THEM A BIT MORE IF TREND IS ACCURATE AND
CONTINUES.

LAST THOUGHT IS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE DEFORMATION BAND MAY HANG OUT
A BIT LONGER THAN EARLIER ANTICIPATED IN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
COS...AND MAY RECEIVE SOME LAKE-ENHANCEMENT/JUICE. THIS LENDS
FURTHER SUPPORT TO UPPING THE TOTALS ACROSS THE BOARD.

.CTP...
PA...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR PAZ064>066.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON FOR PAZ033>036-056>059-063.

DANGELO

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 4, 4:16 AM EST, 22 hours 44 minutes before

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-050700-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
416 AM EST WED DEC 4 2002

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

A STORM OVER TEXAS THIS MORNING WILL TRACK NORTHEAST TO NEAR CAPE
HATTERAS BY THURSDAY MORNING. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING A
PERIOD OF SNOW TO CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THURSDAY MORNING. AT THIS POINT...A 1 TO 4 INCH SNOWFALL APPEARS
LIKELY EVERYWHERE...WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE OVER FAR
SOUTHEASTERN AREAS WHERE A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.

A COLD FRONT FORECAST TO PASS THROUGH THE STATE SUNDAY MAY SPREAD
SOME LAKE EFFECT SNOWS OVER NORTHWESTERN PARTS OF THE STATE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND NIGHT.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM COULD SPREAD WINTRY PRECIPITATION OVER THE
COMMONWEALTH AROUND TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

LA CORTE

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

36 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northern Clinton

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Clinton forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.234, -77.638 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Adams

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.872, -77.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Bedford

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Bedford forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.007, -78.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Blair

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Blair forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.481, -78.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cambria

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Cambria forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.495, -78.714 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cameron

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Cameron forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.437, -78.204 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Clearfield

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Clearfield forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.000, -78.474 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Columbia

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Columbia forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.049, -76.405 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cumberland

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.164, -77.266 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Dauphin

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Dauphin forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.415, -76.779 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Elk

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Elk forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.425, -78.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Franklin

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.927, -77.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Fulton

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.925, -78.113 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Huntingdon

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Huntingdon forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.417, -77.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Juniata

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Juniata forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.531, -77.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lancaster

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Lancaster forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.042, -76.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lebanon

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Lebanon forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.367, -76.458 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, McKean

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: McKean forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.808, -78.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Mifflin

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Mifflin forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.610, -77.617 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Montour

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Montour forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.028, -76.659 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Centre

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Centre forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.919, -77.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Lycoming

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Lycoming forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.343, -77.064 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northumberland

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Northumberland forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.852, -76.709 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Perry

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.398, -77.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Potter

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Potter forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.745, -77.896 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Schuylkill

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Schuylkill forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.706, -76.216 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Snyder

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Snyder forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.770, -77.070 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Somerset

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Somerset forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.972, -79.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Centre

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Centre forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.919, -77.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Clinton

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Clinton forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.234, -77.638 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Lycoming

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Lycoming forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.343, -77.064 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Sullivan

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Sullivan forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.446, -76.512 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Tioga

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Tioga forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.772, -77.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Union

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.963, -77.062 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Warren

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.815, -79.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On Thursday, December 5th, a low pressure system over the Ohio Valley redeveloped along the middle Atlantic coastline, producing a large swath of moderate to locally heavy snow across much of central and southern Pennsylvania. Snowfall began during the pre-dawn hours, and rapidly increased in intensity through the mid-morning hours. The snow gradually tapered off by early afternoon from west to east. By the time the snow ended early Thursday afternoon, widespread snowfall amounts of 7 to 10 inches blanketed much of the lower Susquehanna Valley, with 5 to 8 inches across the central mountains and middle Susquehanna Valley. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour occurred between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m., creating hazardous travel conditions and resulted in numerous school and business closings throughout central Pennsylvania.

Heavy Snow, York

When: December 5, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: York forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.920, -76.726 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, December 2002

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: 5322180, 5322181, 5322182, 5322183, 5322184, 5322185, 5322186, 5322187, 5322188, 5322189, 5322190, 5322191, 5322192, 5322193, 5322194, 5322195, 5322196, 5322197, 5322198, 5322199, 5322200, 5322201, 5322202, 5322203, 5322204, 5322205, 5322206, 5322207, 5322208, 5322209, 5322210, 5322261, 5322262, 5322263, 5322264, 5322265.