Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 3, 2015

Name: Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 3, 2015
Start: 2015-03-03T10:00
End: 2015-03-03T19:00
Location: Pennsylvania

March 3, 2015 · NWS PBZ · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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: 5

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 low pressure system, moving northeastward out of the plains toward the Great Lakes, lifted a warm front across the region during the morning and afternoon on the 3rd. Strong lift ahead of and along a warm front provided for a period of snow, sleet, and freezing rain across western Pennsylvania as cold air remained trapped at the surface. Most locations reported a trace to a few hundredths of an inch of ice. However, in northeastern PA, a prolonged period of freezing rain brought trees and power lines down, and caused several accidents. Over a quarter inch of ice was reported in Jefferson county, PA.

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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 3, 9:38 AM EST, 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 3, 9:38 AM EST, 22 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
938 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE CROSSING THE GREAT LAKES WILL SPREAD RAIN OVER THE
UPPER OHIO VALLEY REGION TODAY. PRECIPITATION MAY BEGIN AS
FREEZING RAIN OR A WINTRY MIX...AND WILL END BY TURNING BACK TO
SNOW ON WEDNESDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
LATEST RADAR IMAGERY SHOWING WEAK ECHOES ENCAPSULATING THE
AREA...BUT COPIOUS DRY AIR IN PLACE IS KEEPING MOST PRECIPITATION
AT BAY. 12Z SOUNDING SHOWING NEARLY A 50C DEWPOINT SPREAD AT
850MB. UNTIL WE ERODE THIS COMPLETELY...VIRGA WILL BE PRESENT. THE
DRY AIR LOOKS TO HOLD INTO THE SOUTHEAST RIDGES THE LONGEST AS
925MB FLOW REMAINS FROM THE SOUTHEAST. THIS WILL KEEP MOST AREAS
SOUTH AND EAST OF PITTSBURGH DRY IN DOWNSLOPING FLOW UNTIL THE
AFTERNOON WHEN THE FLOW VEERS TO THE SOUTH.

HAVE RE-CONFIGURED THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES WITH THE LARGEST
CHANGES INCLUDING CANCELLING THE ADVISORY IN THE RIDGES AND
SPEEDING UP THE START TIME EVERYWHERE ELSE. STILL...WITH ALL THE
DRY AIR IN PLACE AND THE LACK OF UPSTREAM RADAR ACTIVITY...THE
PROBABILITY OF A WIDESPREAD ICING EVENT HAS DROPPED.

ONCE THE LOW-LEVEL FLOW VEERS TO THE SOUTH MUCH WARMER AIR SHOULD
STREAM IN AND ALLOW ANY REMAINING ICING THREAT TO END. THIS WILL
HAPPEN SOUTH TO NORTH THROUGH THE AFTERNOON/EVENING. HAVE TAILORED
THE ADVISORIES TO FOLLOW THIS TRANSITION.
TAX

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY/...
WITH ONGOING WARM AIR AND MOISTURE ADVECTION INTO THE
EVENING...RAIN WILL CONTINUE FALL AREA WIDE AND TEMPERATURES WILL
CONTINUE TO INCREASE UNTIL THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT SWEEPS
ACROSS THE REGION STARTING SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN WILL
REMAIN FAIRLY STEADY WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNTS FOCUSED WHERE MID-
LEVEL CONVERGENCE IS GREATEST...ALONG THE I80 CORRIDOR EARLY IN
THE EVENING AND SHIFTING SOUTH OF THE PA/WV BORDER BY WEDNESDAY
MORNING.
WITH STRONG MID-LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT INTO THE AREA AND UPPER
LEVEL DIVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A
+170KT JET...PORTIONS OF OUR FORECAST AREA COULD RECEIVE 1-1.5" OF
LIQUID THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY. THIS...COMBINED WITH THE POTENTIAL
FOR SNOW MELT AND ICE ON LOCAL CREEKS AND STREAMS...COULD CAUSE
HIGH WATER ISSUES FOR AREAS MAINLY SOUTH OF PITTSBURGH. AN AREAL
FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.

COLDER AIR WILL BEGIN TO FILTER IN WEDS AS THE UPPER TROF APPROACHES
FROM THE WEST. EXPECTING TEMPERATURES TO HOLD PRETTY STEADY THROUGH
THE DAY...WHICH KEEPS THE RAIN/SNOW LINE NEAR PITTSBURGH THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON. BY LATE EVENING TEMPERATURES WILL HAVE FALLEN ENOUGH TO
TRANSITION RAIN TO SNOW FOR ALL LOCATIONS. AGAIN THERE ARE QUESTIONS
SURROUNDING HOW MUCH MOISTURE STAYS IN OUR FORECAST AREA THROUGH
THURS MORNING AS THE GULF OF MEXICO MOISTURE FEED KICKS IN AND THE
UPPER LEVEL TROF BEGINS TO KICK THE BOUNDARY OFF TO OUR EAST.
POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW EXISTS...MAINLY SOUTH AND EAST OF
PITTSBURGH WHERE THE DEEPEST MOISTURE HOLDS. CONFIDENCE IN SNOW
TOTALS AT THIS POINT IS FAIRLY LOW...AND WILL LIKELY CHANGE AS WE
MOVE CLOSER TO MID-WEEK.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
OVERALL...THE LONG TERM PERIOD LOOKS QUIET WITH THE PASSAGE OF A
COUPLE OF WEAK FRONTS SATURDAY NIGHT AND THEN AGAIN LATE MONDAY.
AT THIS TIME...MODELS ARE SHOWING LITTLE MOISTURE ACCOMPANYING
EITHER OF THESE SYSTEMS. A SLOW MODERATION IN TEMPS IS EXPECTED
THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION /15Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MOST OF THE MORNING UNDER
HIGH PRESSURE. AN ADVANCING WARM FRONT SHOULD BRING A MIX OF
SNOW...FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN AT THE ONSET...LATE MORNING INTO
THE AFTERNOON...WITH AN EVENTUAL CHANGEOVER TO RAIN AT ALL SITES
BY LATE IN THE DAY. CONDITIONS SHOULD DETERIORATE TO MVFR WHEN
PRECIP BEGINS...AND EVENTUALLY LOWER TO IFR BY THE LATTER PART OF
THE FORECAST PERIOD.

.OUTLOOK.../TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
WIDESPREAD RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS A
COLD FRONT SLOWLY CROSSES THE REGION. A PERIOD OF LOW LEVEL WIND
SHEAR IS POSSIBLE TUESDAY EVENING.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
AN INCREASE IN FLOW AND STAGE IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE ICE MOVEMENT
STARTING TUESDAY...BEGINNING ON THE SOUTHERNMOST RIVER BASINS. THE
COMBINATION OF SNOW MELT AND DEVELOPING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO MOST
AFFECT THE MONONGAHELA AND YOUGHIOGHENY BASINS.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
     EVENING FOR MDZ001.
OH...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
     OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068.
     FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
     EVENING FOR OHZ049-050-057>059-068-069.
PA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
     PAZ020-029.
     FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
     EVENING FOR PAZ014-020>023-029-031-073>076.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR
     PAZ007>009-013>016-022-023.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
     PAZ021-073-074.
WV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
     WVZ001>003.
     FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
     EVENING FOR WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 3, 9:25 AM EST, 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
925 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

OHZ039>041-048-041430-
TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-
925 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL 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...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

PAZ007>009-013-015-016-041430-
MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST-LAWRENCE-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-
925 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND
WEST CENTRAL 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...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

PAZ014-022-023-041430-
BUTLER-ARMSTRONG-INDIANA-
925 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL 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.
   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

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

   FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

OHZ049-050-PAZ020-WVZ001-041430-
HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-BEAVER-HANCOCK-
925 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

.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.
   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

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

   FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

OHZ057>059-068-PAZ029-WVZ002-003-041430-
MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-WASHINGTON-BROOKE-OHIO-
925 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

.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.
   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

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

   FLOOD WATCH.

RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING ON
THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM. IF THE MOISTURE HOLDS IN OUR AREA LONG
ENOUGH DURING THIS TIME PERIOD...SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
POSSIBLE AND HEADLINES MAY BE NEEDED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MDZ001-OHZ069-PAZ031-075-076-WVZ004-012-021>023-041-041430-
GARRETT-MONROE-GREENE-FAYETTE-FAYETTE RIDGES-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION-
MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER-
925 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST
CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND
NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

.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.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

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

   FLOOD WATCH.

RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING ON
THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM. IF THE MOISTURE HOLDS IN OUR AREA LONG
ENOUGH DURING THIS TIME PERIOD...SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
POSSIBLE AND HEADLINES MAY BE NEEDED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

PAZ021-073-074-041430-
ALLEGHENY-WESTMORELAND-WESTMORELAND RIDGES-
925 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST 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.
   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

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

   FLOOD WATCH.

RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING ON
THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM. IF THE MOISTURE HOLDS IN OUR AREA LONG
ENOUGH DURING THIS TIME PERIOD...SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
POSSIBLE AND HEADLINES MAY BE NEEDED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter weather, 1 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Lawrence

When: March 3, 10:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Lawrence forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.991, -80.334 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trace of ice was reported on social media.

Winter Weather, Allegheny

When: March 3, 10:30 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Allegheny forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.469, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trace of ice was reported on social media.

Winter Weather, Butler

When: March 3, 10:30 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.912, -79.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trace of ice was reported on social media.

Ice Storm, Jefferson

When: March 3, 1:30 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.128, -78.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

There were several reports of trees and lines down across Jefferson county, as reported by emergency management. Also, the local ASOS at Dubois reported over 0.30 inches of ice.

Winter Weather, Clarion

When: March 3, 1:30 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Clarion forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.192, -79.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trace of ice was reported by the public.

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, March 2015

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: 562725, 562723, 562724, 562722, 562727.