Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, January 2 to 3, 2014

Name: Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, January 2 to 3, 2014
Start: 2014-01-02T01:00
End: 2014-01-03T02:00
Location: Pennsylvania

January 2 to 3, 2014 · NWS CLE · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

An area of low pressure moved east across the Tennessee Valley on January 2nd. A trough extending north from this low caused snow to develop just after midnight on January 2nd.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $350,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

An area of low pressure moved east across the Tennessee Valley on January 2nd. A trough extending north from this low caused snow to develop just after midnight on January 2nd. The trough moved into western Pennsylvania during the late afternoon hours of the 2nd causing the flow to become northerly off of Lake Erie. Snowfall intensities began to increase during the morning hours with visibilities dropping below a quarter mile for several hours during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snowfall rates during this time approached two inches per hour. The snow finally tapered off during the early morning hours of January 3rd. Northeast to north winds gusted to as much as 25 mph during this event causing a lot of blowing and drifting. Six to eight inches of snow fell across much of Erie and Crawford Counties. A peak total of 10.0 inches was reported at Girard in Erie County. Officially 5.9 inches of snow fell at Erie International Airport. In Crawford County, a peak total of 7.7 inches was reported west of Meadville. Travel was difficult during this event and many accidents were reported.

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 Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 2, 12:34 AM EST, 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 2, 12:34 AM EST, 26 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 1, 6:51 AM EST, 18 hours 9 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
651 AM EST WED JAN 1 2014

OHZ011>014-020>023-031>033-038-089-PAZ001>003-021200-
CUYAHOGA-LAKE-GEAUGA-ASHTABULA INLAND-MEDINA-SUMMIT-PORTAGE-TRUMBULL-
WAYNE-STARK-MAHONING-HOLMES-ASHTABULA LAKESHORE-NORTHERN ERIE-
SOUTHERN ERIE-CRAWFORD PA-
651 AM EST WED JAN 1 2014

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR ANOTHER MAJOR WINTER STORM TO AFFECT THE
LOCAL AREA SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT WITH THE
COLDEST AIR IN QUITE SOME TIME IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE
AREA ON SUNDAY WHILE LOW PRESSURE MOVES NORTHEAST ALONG THE FRONT.
THE STORM WILL BRING WITH IT SNOW TO THE AREA FOLLOWED BY LAKE
EFFECT SNOW MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. THE ARCTIC AIR MASS ALONG WITH
GUSTY WINDS COULD ALSO BRING SOME DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS TO
THE AREA AS WELL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

OHZ003-006>010-017>019-027>030-036-037-047-021200-
LUCAS-WOOD-OTTAWA-SANDUSKY-ERIE OH-LORAIN-HANCOCK-SENECA-HURON-
WYANDOT-CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-ASHLAND-MARION-MORROW-KNOX-
651 AM EST WED JAN 1 2014

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL OHIO AND
NORTHWEST OHIO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR ANOTHER MAJOR WINTER STORM TO AFFECT THE
LOCAL AREA SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT WITH THE
COLDEST AIR IN QUITE SOME TIME IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE
AREA ON SUNDAY WHILE LOW PRESSURE MOVES NORTHEAST ALONG THE FRONT.
THE STORM WILL BRING WITH IT SNOW TO THE AREA FOLLOWED BY LAKE
EFFECT SNOW MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. THE ARCTIC AIR MASS ALONG WITH
GUSTY WINDS COULD ALSO BRING SOME DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS TO
THE AREA AS WELL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

LEZ061-142>149-162>169-021200-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RIPLEY TO BUFFALO NY-
MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH OH-RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH-
THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH-VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH-
AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH-WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE LAKE OH-GENEVA-
ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH-CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM VERMILION TO AVON POINT-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-
651 AM EST WED JAN 1 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR LAKE ERIE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR ANOTHER MAJOR WINTER STORM TO AFFECT THE
LOCAL AREA SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT WITH THE
COLDEST AIR IN QUITE SOME TIME IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE
AREA ON SUNDAY WHILE LOW PRESSURE MOVES NORTHEAST ALONG THE FRONT.
THE STORM WILL BRING WITH IT SNOW TO THE AREA FOLLOWED BY LAKE
EFFECT SNOW MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. THE ARCTIC AIR MASS ALONG WITH
GUSTY WINDS COULD ALSO BRING SOME DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS TO
THE AREA AS WELL. THE POTENTIAL ALSO EXISTS FOR HEAVY FREEZING
SPRAY FROM LARGE WAVES AND GUSTY WINDS.

LOMBARDY

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 1, 8:45 PM EST, 4 hours 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
845 PM EST WED JAN 01 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 PM     SNOW             YOUNGSTOWN WARREN AIRPO 41.26N  80.68W
01/01/2014  M3.3 INCH        TRUMBULL           OH   ASOS

            24 HOUR SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             TOLEDO EXPRESS AIRPORT  41.59N  83.81W
01/01/2014  M2.0 INCH        LUCAS              OH   ASOS

            12 HOUR SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             SANDUSKY                41.43N  82.76W
01/01/2014  M3.5 INCH        ERIE               OH   SNOW SPOTTER

            12 HOUR SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             TOLEDO EXPRESS AIRPORT  41.59N  83.81W
01/01/2014  M4.5 INCH        LUCAS              OH   ASOS

            24 HOUR SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             ERIE AIRPORT            42.08N  80.18W
01/01/2014  M3.1 INCH        ERIE               PA   ASOS

            12 HOUR SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             CLEVELAND HOPKINS AIRPO 41.41N  81.85W
01/01/2014  M3.9 INCH        CUYAHOGA           OH   ASOS

            24 HOUR SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             NORTHEAST 6SW           42.13N  79.89W
01/01/2014  M2.0 INCH        ERIE               PA   SNOW SPOTTER

            12 HOUR SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             ERIE AIRPORT            42.08N  80.18W
01/01/2014  M6.5 INCH        ERIE               PA   ASOS

            24 HOUR SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             STOW                    41.18N  81.45W
01/01/2014  M2.5 INCH        SUMMIT             OH   SNOW SPOTTER

            12 HOUR SNOWFALL.

&&

EVENT NUMBER CLE1400092
EVENT NUMBER CLE1400093
EVENT NUMBER CLE1400094
EVENT NUMBER CLE1400095
EVENT NUMBER CLE1400096
EVENT NUMBER CLE1400097
EVENT NUMBER CLE1400098
EVENT NUMBER CLE1400099
EVENT NUMBER CLE1400100

THOMPSON

Local storm report, Jan 1, 9:13 PM EST, 3 hours 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
913 PM EST WED JAN 01 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 PM     SNOW             AUSTINTOWN              41.10N  80.75W
01/01/2014  M2.0 INCH        MAHONING           OH   SNOW SPOTTER

            24 HOUR SNOWFALL.

&&

EVENT NUMBER CLE1400101

THOMPSON

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northern Erie

When: January 2, 1:00 AM EST to January 3, 2:00 AM EST
Where: Northern 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)

An area of low pressure moved east across the Tennessee Valley on January 2nd. A trough extending north from this low caused snow to develop just after midnight on January 2nd. The trough moved into western Pennsylvania during the late afternoon hours of the 2nd causing the flow to become northerly off of Lake Erie. Snowfall intensities began to increase during the morning hours with visibilities dropping below a quarter mile for several hours during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snowfall rates during this time approached two inches per hour. The snow finally tapered off during the early morning hours of January 3rd. Northeast to north winds gusted to as much as 25 mph during this event causing a lot of blowing and drifting. Six to eight inches of snow fell across much of Erie and Crawford Counties. A peak total of 10.0 inches was reported at Girard in Erie County. Officially 5.9 inches of snow fell at Erie International Airport. Travel was difficult during this event and many accidents were reported.

Heavy Snow, Southern Erie

When: January 2, 1:00 AM EST to January 3, 2:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Erie forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An area of low pressure moved east across the Tennessee Valley on January 2nd. A trough extending north from this low caused snow to develop just after midnight on January 2nd. The trough moved into western Pennsylvania during the late afternoon hours of the 2nd causing the flow to become northerly off of Lake Erie. Snowfall intensities began to increase during the morning hours with visibilities dropping below a quarter mile for several hours during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snowfall rates during this time approached two inches per hour. The snow finally tapered off during the early morning hours of January 3rd. Northeast to north winds gusted to as much as 25 mph during this event causing a lot of blowing and drifting. Six to eight inches of snow fell across much of Erie and Crawford Counties. Travel was difficult during this event and many accidents were reported.

Heavy Snow, Crawford

When: January 2, 3:00 AM EST to January 3, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.685, -80.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An area of low pressure moved east across the Tennessee Valley on January 2nd. A trough extending north from this low caused snow to develop just after midnight on January 2nd. The trough moved into western Pennsylvania during the late afternoon hours of the 2nd causing the flow to become northerly off of Lake Erie. Snowfall intensities began to increase during the morning hours with visibilities dropping below a quarter mile for several hours during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snowfall rates during this time approached two inches per hour. The snow finally tapered off during the early morning hours of January 3rd. Northeast to north winds gusted to as much as 25 mph during this event causing a lot of blowing and drifting. Six to eight inches of snow fell across much of Erie and Crawford Counties. In Crawford County, a peak total of 7.7 inches was reported west of Meadville. Travel was difficult during this event and many accidents were reported.

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 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, January 2014

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: 495268, 495269, 495270.