Low pressure formed along a stalled front just south of Pennsylvania and slid off the Mid-Atlantic coast before rapidly developing and pushing northeastward off the New England Coast. This storm produced a wide swath of 6-10 inches of snow from the Laurel Highlands east-northeastward across the Ridge and Valley region and into the Poconos.
Every event with a place to put it; 22 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Low pressure formed along a stalled front just south of Pennsylvania and slid off the Mid-Atlantic coast before rapidly developing and pushing northeastward off the New England Coast. This storm produced a wide swath of 6-10 inches of snow from the Laurel Highlands east-northeastward across the Ridge and Valley region and into the Poconos. This snowfall occurred less than 24 hours after many of these same locations saw temperatures well into the 50s. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour were common at the height of the storm, and there were even reports of thunder-snow.
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 Feb 8, 9:31 PM EST, 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 931 PM EST Wed Feb 8 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Cold air moving back into that state behind cold front that crossed the state today. Snow is expected late tonight into early Thursday morning with the highest accumulations likely in the Lower Susquehanna Valley. Cold and brisk conditions on Thursday with falling temperatures and snow showers continuing over the Alleghenies. Cold weather continues on Friday before a milder pattern develops over the weekend and into next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/... Only minor touchups to the overnight forecast at this hour, as heavier lifting was done earlier. Areas of rain and snow are now increasing from the west...with the northwest mountains and shortly the west central mountains seeing snow. Farther south... cold air is still draining southward and temps are dropping through the mid and upper 30s out ahead of the blossoming precipitation area approaching from the Ohio Valley WV/MD panhandles. Lower Susq will be the last to change over in the pre dawn hours and only other adjustment this evening was to slightly shave amounts along and south of the Turnpike there. Adjustments made earlier to add on average 1.5" to central and north central PA forecast snow amounts based on daytime ensemble and CAM trends coupled with perfect juxtaposition of strong omega/dendritic growth zone (DGZ) between 06z and 12z Thursday. These all supported slightly higher snowfall totals across a swath of central PA from the Central Mountains to the Lycoming Valley. Bursts of 1" to 2" per hour will occur between 06z and 12z over this area, putting it into the 5 to 7" range in 12 hours (with 6" midpoint in 12 hours being heavy snow criteria). Farther north, amounts in the 3 to 5 inch range now expected from the northwest mountains across the northern tier, where Winter Weather Advisories for snow were expanded. Overall confidence in widespread plowable moderate to locally heavy snow accumulation remains hight this evening with model spread narrowing further since this time yesterday. Strong consensus is also noted in both 08/00z mesoscale ensemble systems (SSEO/NCAR) adding additional confidence boost and support for winter wx headline issuance. Max snowfall 5-9" in warning area over the southern half of central PA with stripe of 3-6" in advisory zone to the northwest of WSW. Strong height falls moving into the South-Central Appalachians will help to deepen surface low pressure interacting with frontal zone through the Mid Atlantic/Delmarva (south of PA) tonight into early Thursday. The system will be somewhat progressive with marginal temperatures at the onset of pcpn (rain briefly mixing with sleet before quickly transitioning to snow with increasing pcpn rates) which may limit/cap snowfall totals. However favorable dynamics/fgen forcing and strong lift within well-defined deformation precip area NW of low track points toward heavy/intense snow band with rates 1-2" an hour. SSEO/NCAR meso ensembles both depict high intensity snowfall rates moving across south-central PA btwn roughly 05-12z. Final snowfall totals are very much in line with neighboring offices, WPC and 08/00z meso ensemble output. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/... The heaviest snow should be pulling out of the LSV around 12z Thu before tapering off by mid morning. Falling temperatures expected through Thursday with brisk/gusty winds on the backside of departing storm. Snow showers will continue over the western high terrain in cold WNW flow with lake enhancement. A band of light snow possible with the passage of upper trough axis. Snow showers should weaken into Friday as high pressure ridge moves into the area. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A weak surface wave developing over the Upper MS Valley is fcst to streak downstream into the Great Lakes late Fri-Fri ngt. Models continue to produce WAA and overrunning pcpn which may clip northern PA with light snow. Fri will still be chilly but not as cold as Thu. Warmer air advects in from the Ohio Valley for the weekend, with highs on Sat/Sun about 15-20F milder than Fri. Sct showers poss on Sat, with a likely period of rain on Sunday into Sunday night as next system slides through. Above normal temperatures continue early next week though a few shots of cooler air will drop in from the NW. Sct rain/snow showers poss each day mainly over the NW Mtns. Otherwise it looks like there will be plenty of clouds around. && .AVIATION /03Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Colder will continue to filter into the flying area as high pressure builds toward the Gr Lakes and low pressure develops to our south. Generally MVFR conditions with IFR over the higher elevations will remain in place, with mainly VFR over central and eastern locations. A new storm system will spread precipitation over the region this evening and overnight. It will be warm enough to start as rain over most of the flying area, but it will change to snow later in the evening. Expect widespread IFR to develop this evening and continue into Thursday morning. As the low pressure system intensifies near the Delmarva, a period of high snowfall rates between 06Z-12Z will drop all but KBFD to airfield minimums in moderate to heavy snow. Expect snow to rapidly diminish to scattered snow showers or flurries after 12Z. As the flow behind the departing storm turns NW, expect the usual lake effect snows and restrictions to develop for KBFD and KJST. Outlook... Thu PM...scattered snow showers, mainly BFD/JST. Fri...Evening light snow possible NW Mtns. Sat...Low CIGs possible W Mtns. Sun...Widespread MVFR with scattered rain showers. Mon...VFR central and eastern locations. MVFR ocnl IFR with scattered snow showers western and northern higher elevations. && .EQUIPMENT... KFIG surface observation will be off line until further notice due to failed power feed. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM EST Thursday for PAZ019- 024>028-033>036-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063>066. Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM EST Thursday for PAZ005- 006-010>012-017-018-037-041. && SYNOPSIS...Gartner/Steinbugl NEAR TERM...DeVoir/Gartner SHORT TERM...Gartner/Steinbugl LONG TERM...RXR/Steinbugl AVIATION...La Corte EQUIPMENT...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 735 PM EST Wed Feb 8 2017 PAZ019-024>028-033>036-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063>066-100045- Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Somerset- Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Sullivan-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming- Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Perry-Dauphin- Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 735 PM EST Wed Feb 8 2017 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THURSDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ005-006-010>012-017-018-037-041-100045- McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Tioga-Northern Lycoming- 735 PM EST Wed Feb 8 2017 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THURSDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...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...Thursday through Tuesday. 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. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ004-100045- Warren- 735 PM EST Wed Feb 8 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. 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.
22 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A winter storm produced 6 to 9 inches of snow across Southern Centre County. During the height of the storm, snowfall rates of 2 per hour were observed and a portion of I-80 in Centre County was closed due to multiple tractor trailers becoming stuck in the snow.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Columbia County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Sullivan County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 9 inches of snow across Schuylkill County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Southern Clinton County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Southern Lycoming County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 11 inches of snow across Cambria County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 9 inches of snow across Somerset County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Montour County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Northumberland County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Union County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Snyder County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Mifflin County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Juniata County.
A winter storm produced 5 to 7 inches of snow across Huntingdon County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Perry County.
A winter storm produced 4 to 8 inches of snow from south to north across Dauphin County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Tioga County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Northern Lycoming County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow across Northern Centre County.
A winter storm produced 5 to 7 inches of snow across Northern Clinton County.
A winter storm produced 6 to 10 inches of snow across Clearfield County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, February 2017
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: 673098, 673261, 673262, 673268, 673269, 673270, 673272, 673273, 673279, 673281, 673282, 673283, 673286, 673287, 673290, 673294, 673296, 673263, 673264, 673265, 673266, 673267.