Blizzard and Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, December 23 to 24, 2022

Name: Blizzard and Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, December 23 to 24, 2022
Start: 2022-12-23T05:00
End: 2022-12-24T16:00
Location: Pennsylvania

December 23 to 24, 2022 · NWS CLE · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: 6

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.

A long-duration, multi-faceted winter storm hit northwestern Pennsylvania just before Christmas 2022 with extreme cold, strong winds, accumulating snow and extensive blowing and drifting of the snow that fell. An Arctic cold front swept east across northwestern Pennsylvania during the early morning hours of December 23rd. Low pressure along this front tracked over Lake Erie early in the morning on December 23rd and rapidly intensified through the day while slowly lifting northeast across Ontario. With the frontal passage rain changed to snow with temperatures dropping from the upper 30s and lower 40s to sub-zero in about 8 hours. The snow was generally light to moderate, but a brief period of heavier snow with rates of around one inch per hour lifted through during the morning hours December 23rd. The period of snow and rapidly falling temperatures led to a flash freeze and icy conditions on area roadways. While the falling snow became lighter through the afternoon hours of December 23rd, winds began increasing during the morning and gusted over 40 MPH through the day. Peak gusts of up to 55 MPH were measured near the Lake Erie shoreline. Peak gusts across the rest of northwestern Pennsylvania were generally 40-50 MPH. Wind gusts very gradually subsided into December 24th, though gusts didn’t drop below 30mph until that evening. This led to a prolonged period of widespread blowing and drifting snow beginning during the morning December 23rd and continuing through the afternoon and evening, with some patchy blowing and drifting snow continuing overnight and all the way through Christmas Eve. In parts of northwestern Pennsylvania the blowing and drifting snow was extensive enough to lead to blizzard conditions on December 23rd. This storm caused a number of impacts across the area. The greatest impact was to travel due to the flash freeze and extensive blowing and drifting snow, to go along with low visibility. Numerous minor accidents, slide-offs and disabled vehicles were reported throughout the area on December 23rd and 24th. Wind chills dipped to -25 to -40 across all of northwestern Pennsylvania on December 23rd. A number of burst pipes were reported across northwestern Pennsylvania due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning. Erie International Airport recorded 3.0 of snow with this storm, with amounts as high as 8.0 measured by a trained spotter in Greenfield Township.

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 Dec 23, 4:04 AM EST, 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 23, 4:04 AM EST, 56 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
404 AM EST Fri Dec 23 2022

.SYNOPSIS...
Deepening low pressure moves northeast into the Great Lakes
region this morning. A very strong arctic cold front extending
from this low races eastward across the region through sunrise.
A surface trough then lingers over the eastern Great Lakes
through Sunday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Arctic front was located near the OH/PA border as of 4 AM. It
will continue its eastward movement through sunrise and may be
push east of eastern Erie and Crawford Counties by this time.
Temperatures drop quickly with the frontal passage. In 6 hours
Findlay's temperature has dropped from 42 to 5 (-37 degrees).
Winds have increased as advertised to 15 to 25 mph with gusts of
35 to 40 mph. However winds are still expected to increase
through the afternoon as the surface low deepens to our north.

700mb jet is just now rounding the base of the upper level low.
So we should start to see the low pivot more to the northeast.
This pivot point looks like it occurs over the central portion
of the CWA with the best lift across the central and eastern
CWA for the longest period of time through the morning. These
central and eastern areas of the CWA should see 2-4 (maybe 3-5
near/along the I-71 corridor) inches through the morning. NW
Ohio is looking to be west of the main lift so amounts have been
lowered slightly here. In any event the very cold air and
increasing winds should make it feel frigid through the day.
Still think we see just enough snow to blow around across NW
OH, especially away from the cities. NO Changes will be made to
the current headlines as we continue to watch the surface low
deepen to our north.

Eventually the dry slot does lift southwest to northeast across
the CWA with the main area of lift moving out onto the lake and
into western NY late evening into the overnight hours. So
expect to see the lake effect snow increase over the lake into
western NY. We will need to monitor the lakeshore areas from
Lake County to Erie County, PA. However it looks like it will
hold just offshore at this point in time.

Cold temperatures and the wind remain the main story with wind
chills dipping to 20 to 30 below zero this morning from west to
east. These low wind chills then persist through Saturday
morning. Winds remain strong enough that some interruption to
the power grid is possible. Have a plan if you end up losing
power at your location.

By Saturday most of the snow should be out over the lake.
However snow showers should be scattered across NE OH into NW
PA as some snow is blown away from the main swath of lake
effect snow not far offshore of OH and PA. Some light
accumulations are expected where the persistent snow showers can
occur. A few places likely see 4 or more inches somewhere along
the lakeshore from Lake County to Eire County, PA. Breezy
conditions continue through Saturday. This will keep wind chill
values below zero with the expectation that we will need to
issue a wind chill advisory.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
Cold, cyclonic flow continues through Christmas Day before high
pressure wedges into the Ohio Valley Sunday night into Monday
morning. In this cyclonic flow, lake effect snow will attempt to
impact the eastern lakeshore. A clipper will approach from the west
Monday afternoon and evening, but will be weakening as it does so.

In terms of the lake effect, conditions remain fairly conducive from
a moisture and instability standpoint into Sunday morning, with
inversion heights of 7-8k feet, lake to 850mb temperature
differentials of 18-20C, and saturation and steep lapse rates
through the dendritic growth zone. These conditions gradually
dwindle through Sunday, and by Sunday night only support light
additional accumulations of lake effect. In terms of wind direction
and shear, winds from 850mb on up will be out of the west-northwest,
while surface winds remain backed more southwesterly. Models show
strong convergence near the eastern lakeshore which will focus a
band, but the directional shear may cause the band to fan out and
not be extremely focused/intense. Based on the surface wind
direction, am favoring the band largely remaining near the lakeshore
or just offshore Saturday night through Sunday night, but with the
shear fanning out the band some accumulation snow may still work
into locations near and north of I-90 in Lake, Ashtabula, and Erie
Counties, especially late Saturday night through the day Sunday as
the mean flow tries to gradually veer. We'll see if that veering is
enough to push the more of the snow onto land, or if it stubbornly
sits just offshore. Regardless, the Winter Storm Warning for Lake,
Ashtabula and Erie PA Counties continues through Sunday afternoon to
account for potential continued accumulations and impact should lake
effect push onshore. The current snow grids have light to moderate
accumulations focused near and north of I-90 from Lake County on
east Saturday night and Sunday, with minimal additional amounts
Sunday night any beyond. These additional accumulations and the end
time of the warning may be finessed once we get a better handle on
how much the snow is able to push onshore.

Outside of the lake effect, would not be surprised to see some light
snow continue across parts of northern Ohio and northwestern PA
Saturday night as warm air aloft wraps all the way around our
departing storm over eastern Canada, leading to modest mid-level
lift. Accumulations outside of the lake effect would be light. The
main potential for a bit of light snow Saturday night is east of the
I-71 corridor...to the west, leaning towards dry weather prevailing
Saturday night or just some flurries. Synoptic moisture really
dwindles on Sunday, so should see any lingering synoptic flakes
completely end and should see at least some attempts at the sun
poking through.

The clipper that approaches on Monday looks to dive to our southwest
and will be shearing out as it interacts with the backside of a
trough over the northeastern US...however, did add some low chances
for snow to the forecast Monday afternoon in western and central OH,
as the GFS, Euro, and Canadian all bring in a bit of QPF. If snow
does make it in, not expecting any notable accumulations.

Lingering Arctic chill through the period, with lows Saturday and
Sunday nights in the single digits away from the immediate
lakeshore. Lows Monday night look to moderate into the 10s for most
of us. Highs generally look stuck in the 10s for Sunday, though look
to be a few degrees warmer for Monday, in the upper 10s/lower 20s.
Wind gusts to near 40 mph may persist in parts of northwest OH and
near the lakeshore into Saturday evening, continuing blowing snow in
open areas, but gradually decrease into Christmas Day with winds
further slackening Sunday night and Monday.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Winds may turn westerly Monday night into Tuesday and again push
some lake effect towards the Erie PA shoreline, so have chance POPs
to account for that Monday night into early Tuesday. The airmass is
seasonably chilly and inversion heights don't look extremely high,
so not expecting heavy lake effect even if it does manage to push
onshore in this window. Other than that, zonal flow aloft and
surface ridging keep us quiet Tuesday and Wednesday. A trough ejects
out of the Rockies and into the central US after midweek, sending a
low pressure towards the upper Great Lakes. Bring some POPs in from
the west ahead of this on Thursday...thinking most or all of those
POPs will be in the form of rain.

Temperatures will remain 5-10 degrees below average for Tuesday and
Tuesday night, moderating to above average by Thursday with highs
well into the 40s expected.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z Friday THROUGH Tuesday/...
Arctic front was located from Cleveland southward to just west
of Millersburg. It will continue its eastward movement through
sunrise and may be just east of eastern Erie and Crawford
Counties in NW PA. Temperatures drop quickly with the frontal
passage. In 3 hours Toledo's temperature dropped from 41 to 24
(-17 degrees). Winds have increased as advertised to 15 to 20
mph with gusts around 30 mph. However winds are still expected
to increase through this afternoon as the surface low deepens to
our north.

This will provide the region with mainly MVFR/IFR conditions
through sunrise then continue into this evening. The longest
periods of IFR occur with the burst of snow that occurs in the
wake of the front 07Z through 15Z from the Mid Ohio Region
eastward to NW PA.

Gusty winds become the main story with southwest to west winds
of 20 to 30 knots with gusts 40 to near 50 knots possible.
Winds this strong combined with any snow on the ground will lead
to plenty blowing and drifting. Winds chills dip to 20 to 30
below zero this morning then continue that way into tonight.

Outlook...Non-VFR Saturday through early Sunday, primarily from
low ceilings and/or periods of blowing snow across NE OH into NW
PA. Strong southwesterly winds with frequent gusts exceeding 40
knots are expected through Saturday morning.

&&

.MARINE...
A deepening low pressure over Ontario and western Quebec will cause
extremely hazardous marine conditions through Saturday over Lake
Erie. Strongest winds will be this afternoon through tonight, when
winds will near or reach storm force over the entire lake. Gusts to
60 knots may occur over the central and eastern basin at times.
Winds gradually decrease Saturday and Sunday. The Storm Warning
remains as posted for the entire lake, dropping off early Saturday
morning in the western basin and later Saturday morning to the east.
These will likely be followed by a Gale Warning through Saturday
afternoon in the west and Saturday evening in the east, though we
will not hoist the follow-up Gale Warnings until we expire the Storm
Warnings. Heavy freezing spray will remain an issue through Sunday
and the Heavy Freezing Spray Warning remains as posted. Water levels
are starting to fall at Toledo and are still expected to dip 3-4
feet below the critical mark for safe navigation, so the Low Water
Advisory also remains as posted for the western basin. Those levels
will slowly improve Saturday night into Sunday as winds finally drop
below gale.

Quieter marine conditions return Sunday night into Monday with
fairly tranquil conditions (relatively speaking) through Thursday.
Southerly winds may get a bit stiffer Wednesday night into Thursday,
perhaps pushing 20 knots, but current impression is no marine
headlines will be needed for at least a few days once the current
mess exits later this weekend. Ice formation may occur quickly on
the western basin Sunday and Monday nights when winds relax a little
bit, with cold lows both nights.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...Winter Storm Warning until 7 AM EST Saturday for OHZ003-
     006>008-017-018-027>030-036-037-047.
     Wind Chill Warning until 10 AM EST Saturday for OHZ003-006>014-
     017>023-027>033-036>038-047-089.
     Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM EST Saturday for OHZ009>011-
     013-019>023-031>033-038.
     Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM EST Sunday for OHZ012-014-089.
PA...Wind Chill Warning until 10 AM EST Saturday for PAZ001>003.
     Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM EST Saturday for PAZ003.
     Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM EST Sunday for PAZ001-002.
MARINE...Low Water Advisory until 4 AM EST Sunday for LEZ142>144-
     162>164.
     Storm Warning until 4 AM EST Saturday for LEZ142>144-162>164.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 4 AM EST Sunday for
     LEZ142>144-162>164.
     Storm Warning until 10 AM EST Saturday for LEZ145>149-165>169.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 4 PM EST Sunday for
     LEZ145>149-165>169.

&&

SYNOPSIS...MM
NEAR TERM...MM
SHORT TERM...Sullivan
LONG TERM...Sullivan
AVIATION...MM
MARINE...Sullivan

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 23, 4:31 AM EST, 29 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
431 AM EST Fri Dec 23 2022

OHZ009>011-013-019>023-031>033-038-PAZ003-240945-
Erie-Lorain-Cuyahoga-Geauga-Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-Trumbull-
Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-Holmes-Crawford-
431 AM EST Fri Dec 23 2022

...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST SATURDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST SATURDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central Ohio, 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 Storm Warning.
   Wind Chill Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Winter Storm Warning.
   Wind Chill Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

OHZ003-006>008-017-018-027>030-036-037-047-240945-
Lucas-Wood-Ottawa-Sandusky-Hancock-Seneca-Wyandot-Crawford-Richland-
Ashland-Marion-Morrow-Knox-
431 AM EST Fri Dec 23 2022

...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST SATURDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST SATURDAY...

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 Storm Warning.
   Wind Chill Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Winter Storm Warning.
   Wind Chill Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

OHZ012-014-089-PAZ001-002-240945-
Lake-Ashtabula Inland-Ashtabula Lakeshore-Northern Erie-
Southern Erie-
431 AM EST Fri Dec 23 2022

...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST SATURDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST SUNDAY...

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 Storm Warning.
   Wind Chill Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Winter Storm Warning.
   Wind Chill Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

LEZ142>144-162>164-240945-
Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH-Reno Beach to The Islands OH-
The Islands to Vermilion OH-
Detroit River Lt. to Maumee Bay OH to Reno Beach OH beyond 5NM
offshoreline to US-Canadian border-
Reno Beach to The Islands OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
The Islands to Vermilion OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
431 AM EST Fri Dec 23 2022

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST SATURDAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST SUNDAY...
...LOW WATER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST SUNDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie.

.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.

   Low Water Advisory.
   Storm Warning.
   Heavy Freezing Spray Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Low Water Advisory.
   Heavy Freezing Spray Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

LEZ061-145>149-165>169-240945-
Ripley to Buffalo NY extending from 5NM off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-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-
Vermilion to Avon Point OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
Avon Point to Willowick OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-Willowick to Geneva-on-the-
Lake OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-Canadian border-Geneva-on-the-
Lake to Conneaut OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-Canadian border-
Conneaut OH to Ripley NY beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
431 AM EST Fri Dec 23 2022

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST SATURDAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST SUNDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie.

.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.

   Storm Warning.
   Heavy Freezing Spray Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Storm Warning.
   Heavy Freezing Spray Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 extreme cold/wind chill, 2 winter storm, 1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Crawford

When: December 23, 5:00 AM EST to December 24, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.685, -80.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An Arctic cold front swept through the area around 4 AM December 23rd. Low pressure along this front tracked over Lake Erie early in the morning on December 23rd and rapidly intensified through the day while slowly lifting northeast across Ontario. With the frontal passage rain changed to snow with temperatures dropping from the upper 30s and lower 40s to sub-zero in about 8 hours. A period of moderate to heavy snow, with snow rates up to 1 per hour observed, occurring during the morning and midday hours December 23rd. The period of snow and rapidly falling temperatures led to a flash freeze and icy conditions on area roadways. While the falling snow became lighter through the afternoon hours of December 23rd, winds began increasing during the pre-dawn hours and gusted over 35 MPH through the day. A peak gust of 46 MPH was measured at 1:50 PM December 23rd in Richmond Township. Meadville Airport reported a peak gust of 44 MPH at 7:12 AM. Sporadic tree damage and power outages resulted. Wind gusts very gradually subsided into December 24th, though gusts didn’t drop below 30 MPH until that evening. This led to a prolonged period of widespread blowing and drifting snow beginning early in the morning December 23rd and continuing through the afternoon and evening, with some patchy blowing and drifting snow continuing all the way through Christmas Eve. The greatest impact from this storm was to travel due to the flash freeze and extensive blowing and drifting snow, to go along with low visibility. Numerous minor accidents, slide-offs and disabled vehicles were reported throughout the area on December 23rd and 24th. Wind chills plunged below 0 around 8 AM December 23rd and did not warm above 0 until midday December 26th. A minimum wind chill of -32 degrees was reported at 5:01 PM at Meadville Airport. Weather stations reported minimum wind chills of -32 in Richmond Township and -31 outside of Saegertown. A number of burst pipes were reported across northwestern Pennsylvania due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning. The highest reported snowfall with this storm was 4.2 , measured by a trained spotter in Atlantic and by a Co-Op Observer in Springboro. Trained spotters also measured 3.5 in Meadville and 2.1 in Townville. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 2.4 in Conneaut Lake.

Winter Storm, Southern Erie

When: December 23, 5:00 AM EST to December 24, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Erie forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An Arctic cold front swept through the area around 4 AM December 23rd. Low pressure along this front tracked over Lake Erie early in the morning on December 23rd and rapidly intensified through the day while slowly lifting northeast across Ontario. With the frontal passage rain changed to snow with temperatures dropping from the upper 30s and lower 40s to sub-zero in about 8 hours. A period of moderate to heavy snow, with snow rates up to 1 per hour observed, occurring during the morning and midday hours December 23rd. The period of snow and rapidly falling temperatures led to a flash freeze and icy conditions on area roadways. While the falling snow became lighter through the afternoon hours of December 23rd, winds began increasing during the pre-dawn hours and gusted over 40 MPH through the day. A peak gust of 55 MPH was measured at 1:31 PM December 23rd at Erie International Airport. Scattered tree damage and power outages resulted. Wind gusts very gradually subsided into December 24th, though gusts didn’t drop below 30 MPH until that evening. This led to a prolonged period of widespread blowing and drifting snow beginning early in the morning December 23rd and continuing through the afternoon and evening, with some patchy blowing and drifting snow continuing all the way through Christmas Eve. The greatest impact from this storm was to travel due to the flash freeze and extensive blowing and drifting snow, to go along with low visibility. Numerous minor accidents, slide-offs and disabled vehicles were reported throughout the area on December 23rd and 24th. Wind chills plunged below 0 around 8 AM December 23rd and did not warm above 0 until midday December 26th. A minimum wind chill of -30 degrees was reported at 2:51 PM December 23rd at Erie International Airport. A weather station in Edinboro recorded a wind chill of -33 degrees at 7:00 PM. Warming centers were opened in Erie and Mill Village in response to these conditions. A number of burst pipes were reported across northwestern Pennsylvania due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning. The highest reported snowfall was 8.8 , measured by a trained spotter in Greenfield Township. Elsewhere, spotters measured 4.0 in Edinboro and 2.0 in Corry.

Blizzard, Northern Erie

When: December 23, 5:00 AM EST to December 24, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Erie forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An Arctic cold front swept through the area around 4 AM December 23rd. Low pressure along this front tracked over Lake Erie early in the morning on December 23rd and rapidly intensified through the day while slowly lifting northeast across Ontario. With the frontal passage rain changed to snow with temperatures dropping from the upper 30s and lower 40s to sub-zero in about 8 hours. A period of moderate to heavy snow, with snow rates up to 1 per hour observed, occurring during the morning and midday hours December 23rd. The period of snow and rapidly falling temperatures led to a flash freeze and icy conditions on area roadways. While the falling snow became lighter through the afternoon hours of December 23rd, winds began increasing during the pre-dawn hours and gusted over 45 MPH through the day. A peak gust of 55 MPH was measured at 1:31 PM December 23rd at Erie International Airport. Scattered tree damage and power outages resulted. Wind gusts very gradually subsided into December 24th, though gusts didn’t drop below 30 MPH until that evening. This led to a prolonged period of widespread blowing and drifting snow beginning early in the morning December 23rd and continuing through the afternoon and evening, with some patchy blowing and drifting snow continuing all the way through Christmas Eve. At Erie International Airport, the visibility was consistently at or below one-quarter of a mile in falling and/or blowing snow from 7:35 AM through 5:10 PM December 23rd. Wind gusts were consistently over 35 MPH through this period, meaning blizzard conditions were observed. The greatest impact from this storm was to travel due to the flash freeze and extensive blowing and drifting snow, to go along with low visibility. Numerous minor accidents, slide-offs and disabled vehicles were reported throughout the area on December 23rd and 24th. All flights out of the Erie International Airport were canceled December 23rd. Wind chills plunged below 0 around 8 AM December 23rd and did not warm above 0 until midday December 26th. A minimum wind chill of -30 degrees was reported at 2:51 PM December 23rd at Erie International Airport. Warming centers were opened in Erie and Mill Village in response to these conditions. A number of burst pipes were reported across Northwest Pennsylvania due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning. A trained spotter in Lake City reported 3.2 of snow with this storm. 3.0 of snow was measured at Erie International Airport. Some light lake effect snow lingered into Christmas morning behind the storm.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Crawford

When: December 23, 11:00 AM EST to December 24, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.685, -80.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills plunged below 0 around 8 AM December 23rd and did not warm above 0 until midday December 26th. A minimum wind chill of -32 degrees was reported at 5:01 PM at Meadville Airport. Weather stations reported minimum wind chills of -32 in Richmond Township and -31 outside of Saegertown. A number of burst pipes were reported across Northwest Pennsylvania due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Southern Erie

When: December 23, 11:00 AM EST to December 24, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Erie forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills plunged below 0 around 8 AM December 23rd and did not warm above 0 until midday December 26th. A minimum wind chill of -30 degrees was reported at 2:51 PM December 23rd at Erie International Airport. A weather station in Edinboro recorded a wind chill of -33 degrees at 7:00 PM. Warming centers were opened in Erie and Mill Village in response to these conditions. A number of burst pipes were reported across Northwest Pennsylvania due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Northern Erie

When: December 23, 11:00 AM EST to December 24, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Erie forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills plunged below 0 around 8 AM December 23rd and did not warm above 0 until midday December 26th. A minimum wind chill of -30 degrees was reported at 2:51 PM December 23rd at Erie International Airport. Warming centers were opened in Erie and Mill Village in response to these conditions. A number of burst pipes were reported across Northwest Pennsylvania due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, December 2022

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: 1092361, 1092362, 1092366, 1092595, 1092596, 1092597.