Low pressure passed over the western Great Lakes, bringing a period of warm-advection snow to central Pennsylvania. 6 to 10 inches of snow fell across the southern tier of counties from Somerset eastward to Lancaster, with lesser amount farther to the north.
Every event with a place to put it; 28 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 passed over the western Great Lakes, bringing a period of warm-advection snow to central Pennsylvania. 6 to 10 inches of snow fell across the southern tier of counties from Somerset eastward to Lancaster, with lesser amount farther to the north. The snow tapered to freezing drizzle during the afternoon hours, before another round of steadier sleet and freezing rain developed during the evening hours. Much of central Pennsylvania, along and south of I-80, received 0.25 or more of freezing rain.
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 20, 4:45 AM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 445 AM EST Wed Feb 20 2019 .SYNOPSIS... A winter storm will bring snow, ice and difficult travel to central Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Conditions will improve into Thursday as a breezy west wind directs drier air into the region. Fair weather will continue into Friday before another round of precipitation over the weekend. It will turn windy and colder Sunday night into Monday with little to no precipitation expected early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... *Significant snow and ice accumulation for south-central PA Robust isentropic lift/theta-e advection behind very moist southerly flow and synoptic ascent associated with 150KT jet streak to the north will produce widespread wintry precipitation across central PA today into tonight. The leading edge of precipitation (snow) at 0930Z has lifted north of MD line to the PA TPKE over the southwest mtns and should reach the US-322 corridor around 13Z. Thermal profiles are cold enough for all snow to start the event. Hires model guidance continues to indicate a heavy burst or "thump" of WAA snow across south-central PA this morning. This initial, ~3-6hr snow burst will be driven by a brief but intense period of low to mid level FGEN. The 00Z HREF confirms high probability of 1-2 in/hr snowfall rates in the 12-18Z window. The duration of intense snow will be somewhat limited, as the warm nose aloft will lift northward turning precipitation from snow to ice (sleet/freezing rain) in most places this afternoon. One concern is guidance may be too quick to warm the column due to reinforcement of the wedge by initial evaporative cooling (09Z dewpoint depressions running 10-15+ degrees) and falling precipitation (moderate to heavy snow). This would be a boom scenario for snow totals and would add a couple of inches on to current fcst. This is also important from a winter headline perspective as it could push storm total amounts from advisory to warning levels. Conversely, a quicker change or mix with sleet would trim snow totals. Precipitation will changeover from snow to ice from southwest to northeast leading to a prolonged period of freezing rain across a good portion of south-central PA especially the higher terrain/ridges from the Laurel Highlands into the southern Alleghenies. The heaviest snowfall of 6-8" in fcst over far south-central PA just north of the WV/MD panhandles. 3-6" is projected throughout the lower Susquehanna Valley and along the I-80 corridor. 1-3" is fcst over the northern tier with the lowest amounts along the NY border. The heaviest freezing rain is likely in the terrain zones mentioned above, where a risk exists for >0.25" of ice accretion even after the snowfall. A second wave of heavier QPF appears likely in the 00-06Z Thu timeframe which would fall mainly as freezing rain. This could push some of the advisory area close to warning level freezing rain/ice accumulation. Precip intensity will decrease btwn 06-09Z with west wind shift drying things out east of the Alleghenies. The shift to upslope flow favors the highest POPs over the western ridges into the predawn hours Thursday. Temperatures will slowly climb above freezing overnight with light rain becoming the most likely/dominant ptype by 12Z Thursday. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... Breezy and dry wx expected on Thursday with temps rebounding into the 40s. High pressure returns Thu night into Friday bringing fair and dry weather. Another shot of WAA precip into a retreating cold sector with departing sfc high pressure is likely heading into the weekend. Timing will be important with a period of snow or ice to start the weekend over south-central PA. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Aside from an initial period of mixed precipitation early Saturday, expect periods of rain throughout the weekend. Temperatures will trend milder Saturday into Sunday with fcst highs in the upper 40s north to near 60F in the LSV. It will turn windy and colder into early next week. Model guidance suggest advisory level wind gusts are possible Sunday night into Monday. The colder NW flow should produce snow showers downwind of Lake Erie. Otherwise, the wx looks mainly dry Monday and Tuesday. && .AVIATION /08Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... No big changes to the late evening TAF updates. Earlier discussion below. For the 00Z TAFS, looking at VFR conditions overnight with mid and high clds. Snow moves in from southwest to northeast from just before sunrise at JST, to other areas by mid to late morning. Sleet and freezing rain becomes the problem by afternoon, as the warm front nears. Conditions will become poor with LLWS as well. The precipitation becomes lighter Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. Outlook... Wed...Snow (ocnly heavy during the late morning and early afternoon) changing to to a wintry mix, then mainly freezing rain before nightfall. Thu...AM light freezing rain/low cigs possible early. Fri...AM low cigs possible W Mtns. Sat...PM rain/low cigs possible. Sun...Showers, mild, and windy. Low conditions possible. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 AM EST Thursday for PAZ004>006-037-042. Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 6 AM EST Thursday for PAZ010>012-017>019-041-045-046-049>053-058. Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM EST Thursday for PAZ024>026- 033>036. Winter Storm Warning from 6 AM this morning to 6 AM EST Thursday for PAZ027-028-056-057-059-063>066. && SYNOPSIS...Steinbugl NEAR TERM...Steinbugl SHORT TERM...Steinbugl LONG TERM...Steinbugl AVIATION...Martin
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 521 AM EST Wed Feb 20 2019 PAZ027-028-056-057-059-063>066-211030- Mifflin-Juniata-Perry-Dauphin-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York- Lancaster- 521 AM EST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY... 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 Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ004>006-037-042-211030- Warren-McKean-Potter-Tioga-Sullivan- 521 AM EST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM EST THURSDAY... 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...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ010>012-017>019-041-045-046-049>053-058-211030- Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield-Northern Centre- Southern Centre-Northern Lycoming-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming- Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Schuylkill- 521 AM EST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY... 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...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ024>026-033>036-211030- Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon-Somerset-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin- 521 AM EST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY... 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 Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
28 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A Winter Storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Somerset County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 4 to 6 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain (locally greater than 0.50) across Cambria County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Bedford County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Fulton County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 6 to 8 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Blair County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 6 to 10 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Franklin County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 6 to 9 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Huntingdon County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 6 to 7 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Adams County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 4 to 6 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Cumberland County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 4 to 8 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Perry County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 4 to 8 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Juniata County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 5 to 7 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Mifflin County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across York County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across southern Centre County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across northern Centre County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 2 to 5 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain (locally near 0.50) across Clearfield County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 1 to 3 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across southern Clinton County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 1 to 3 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across southern Lycoming County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Union County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 2 to 5 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Snyder County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Northumberland County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 4 to 6 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Dauphin County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Lancaster County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Lebanon County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 3 to 4 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Schuylkill County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Montour County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Columbia County on February 20-21, 2019.
A Winter Storm produced 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet followed by greater than 0.25 of freezing rain across Sullivan County on February 20-21, 2019.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, February 2019
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: 801239, 801240, 801241, 801242, 801243, 801244, 801245, 801246, 801247, 801248, 801249, 801250, 801251, 801252, 801253, 801254, 801255, 801256, 801257, 801259, 801260, 801261, 801262, 801263, 801264, 801265, 801266, 801267.