Heavy Snow, Crawford
- When
- April 4, 2:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Crawford forecast zone
- Property damage
- $125,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 41.685, -80.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, April 4, 2004
A very strong cold front moved across northwestern Pennsylvania during the late evening hours of April 3rd. Cold north to northwest winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the early morning hours of the 4th.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $275,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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 CLE wrote it up.
A very strong cold front moved across northwestern Pennsylvania during the late evening hours of April 3rd. Cold north to northwest winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the early morning hours of the 4th. Very heavy snow began around daybreak and then continued for the remainder of the morning. Visibilities at times were reduced to near zero with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour reported at some locations. The snow quickly tapered off during the late afternoon and evening hours. Accumulations were in the 6 to 9 inch range over much of southern Erie and northern Crawford counties. Gusty winds accompanied the snow and caused considerable blowing and drifting. Difficult driving conditions and many accidents were reported.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Snow, Southern Erie
- When
- April 4, 2:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Southern Erie forecast zone
- Property damage
- $150,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 42.118, -80.098 (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
- Wildfire in Georgia, April 4, 2004
- Hail in Texas, April 4, 2004
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, April 4, 2004
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Texas, April 4 to 5, 2004
- Heavy Snow in New York, April 4, 2004
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, April 4 to 5, 2004
- Strong Wind in New Jersey, April 4, 2004
- Strong Wind in Maryland, April 4, 2004
- Strong Wind in Delaware, April 4, 2004
- Winter Weather in Colorado, April 4 to 5, 2004
- Winter Weather in Maine, April 4 to 6, 2004
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Hampshire, April 4 to 6, 2004
More
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, April 2004
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: 5391618, 5391619.