A lake-effect and upslope snow event produced 8-12 inches of snowfall in portions of Warren and McKean County, with sub-warning snowfall across the higher elevations of Somerset County.
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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.
The episode as NWS CTP wrote it up.
A lake-effect and upslope snow event produced 8-12 inches of snowfall in portions of Warren and McKean County, with sub-warning snowfall across the higher elevations of Somerset County.
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 29, 3:57 AM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 357 AM EST Thu Dec 29 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will move across the area on Thursday. Ahead of the front a wintry mix of snow...sleet and freezing rain will develop overnight and change to rain after sunrise Thursday. Lake effect snow showers will occur late Thursday into Friday, as a deep storm forms off the New England coast Thursday evening. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 9 AM THIS MORNING/... 2am update...radar filling in with precip moving east at a steady clip...entering western CWA. Forecast on track with mixed precipitation for southern portions and snow for north. Previous discussion... Warm advection precipitation ahead of approaching cold front will develop west to east overnight. Much of the precipitation will start as as now and continue as such through later Thursday morning. Given light qp expected, generally light snow accums are expected. The exception could be across far eastern counties, specifically Sullivan and Schuylkill, where model guidance is indicating higher qp and hier terrain/upslope favoring. Also, current indications are that warm air just above the surface/850mb level will surge northward across south central PA. This will allow melting of pcpn and combined with temps falling into the mid 20s will pose a threat for a period of freezing rain. Have thus hoisted a Winter Weather Advisory for roughly the southwestern quarter of the cwa for overnight til 9am Thursday. && .SHORT TERM /9 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH 6 PM FRIDAY/... Rain will likely mix with the snow across the south, given borderline temperatures at low levels. Upslope flow expected late Thursday afternoon across the far west, thus a winter storm watch has been issued for Somerset county. Somerset County on the northern edge of the heavier snow noted by WPC. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A lake effect snow watch is in effect for Warren county Thursday night into Friday evening. Deep NW flow will bring bands of snow showers and squalls to the northwest from late Thursday into Friday, along with gusty winds. Activity will taper off late Friday night, as winds shift more to the west and southwest late, and 500 mb heights rise. The first part of Saturday looks ok. Another fast moving system will bring more rain and snow showers to the area for the end of the year, into early Sunday morning. Most of Sunday looks to be dry at this point. Next Monday and Tuesday looks like the event we just had, mild temperatures will work into the area, as a deep storm system lifts northeast across the upper lakes. PA will be on the northern edge of any potential for a southern stream system later next week. Another brief cold spell to follow the front by mid week. && .AVIATION /08Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... The next system continues to move into the region. Timing is slightly different as any mixed precipitation transitioned quickly to snow at JST. Per the radar it looks like other then the higher elevations this should be the case. Periods of IFR are possible for BFD JST and AOO between 08Z to 10Z. A frontal system will bring snow /north/ or a wintry mix /south/ to the area, developing overnight and continuing into Thurs. The precip may change over to plain rain across srn PA. This system is quick- moving, and locations east of the Allegheny Front should begin to see improvement Thurs aftn. Gusty west to northwest winds will develop behind the front Thurs aftn and continue through Fri, with MVFR/IFR conds in scattered lake-effect and upslope snow showers affecting the north and west /BFD and JST/. Outlook... Fri...Windy with MVFR/IFR snow showers across the north and west. Mainly VFR across central and eastern areas. Sat...VFR early, restrictions develop with possible snow showers PM. Sun...Mainly VFR. Sun night into Mon...MVFR and IFR with snow showers early, then rain showers. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Lake Effect Snow Watch from this evening through Friday evening for PAZ004. Winter Weather Advisory until 2 PM EST this afternoon for PAZ042-058. Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM EST this morning for PAZ024>026-033>036-063-064. Winter Storm Watch from this afternoon through Friday evening for PAZ033. && SYNOPSIS...Gartner NEAR TERM...Gartner SHORT TERM...Dangelo/Martin LONG TERM...Martin AVIATION...Ceru/Evanego
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 PAZ006-010>012-017>019-037-041-045-046-049>052-301000- POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-NORTHERN CENTRE- SOUTHERN CENTRE-TIOGA-NORTHERN LYCOMING-SOUTHERN CLINTON- SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-NORTHUMBERLAND- 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A BRIEF PERIOD OF LIGHT SNOW WILL END LATE THIS MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD BE MINOR...LESS THAN 3 INCHES...OVER MOST OF THE AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. .LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL THEN START UP LATE THURSDAY AND LAST THROUGH ALL OF FRIDAY...PRODUCING ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MIGHT BE NEEDED. PAZ024>026-034>036-063-064-301000- CAMBRIA-BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-CUMBERLAND-ADAMS- 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. PAZ027-028-056-057-059-065-066-301000- MIFFLIN-JUNIATA-PERRY-DAUPHIN-LEBANON-YORK-LANCASTER- 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SNOW WILL MOVE IN FROM THE WEST TONIGHT. THE SNOW WILL TURN TO RAIN OVER MOST AREAS BEFORE ENDING LATE THIS MORNING TO EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MINOR. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. PAZ033-301000- SOMERSET- 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST THIS MORNING... ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WINTER STORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. PAZ005-301000- MCKEAN- 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 ...LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. PAZ004-301000- WARREN- 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 ...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. PAZ042-058-301000- SULLIVAN-SCHUYLKILL- 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. PAZ053-301000- COLUMBIA- 446 AM EST THU DEC 29 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SNOW WILL MOVE IN FROM THE WEST TONIGHT. THE SNOW WILL TURN TO RAIN OVER MOST AREAS BEFORE ENDING LATE THURSDAY MORNING OR EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MINOR. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Lake-effect snow produced 8-12 inches of snowfall across northern and western Warren County.
Lake-effect snow produced 8-12 inches of snowfall in parts of McKean County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, December 2016
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: 665314, 665315.