During the early morning hours on January 18th 2024, a surface low pressure system began to develop over the southeast CONUS. The surface low further developed as it tracked northeast along the Appalachian range.
Every event with a place to put it; 18 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 PBZ wrote it up.
During the early morning hours on January 18th 2024, a surface low pressure system began to develop over the southeast CONUS. The surface low further developed as it tracked northeast along the Appalachian range. The deformation snowfall begin to develop just to the south along the northern WV areas and just south of the forecast area. The area of development did eventually move north as it overcame a low level dry area in the profile. However, the frontogenetic banding was weaker than forecasted and came in with lower snowfall amounts than forecasted through the day on Thursday. By Thursday evening and Thursday night, the surface low pushed off to the east and off the East Coast. Behind the front, during the early morning hours of January 19th, the lake enhanced upslope began as a post frontal trough assisted in snow shower development. The snow showers produced heavy snowfall at times and quickly made up for the lack of snow during the synoptic snowfall period.
During the upslope portion of the event, a strong narrow band of heavy snow showers formed right along the southwest border of Allegheny and Washington Counties in Pennsylvania and persisted there from 20Z on the 19th through 03Z on the 20th. This band, at it's max strength, was producing up to 2 inches per hour snowfall rates at times. It resulted in some snowfall amounts in PA counties such as Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, and Westmoreland well above expected totals.
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 Jan 18, 1:05 PM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
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</html>Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 344 AM EST Thu Jan 18 2024 OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>022-029- 031-073-075-077-078-WVZ001>004-012-021-509-190845- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango-Forest- Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver-Allegheny-Armstrong- Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-Fayette-Indiana- Higher Elevations of Indiana-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel- Marion-Monongalia- 344 AM EST Thu Jan 18 2024 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM FRIDAY TO 10 AM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Widespread accumulating snow will begin late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Widespread accumulating snow will continue into Friday night. The heaviest snow is expected during the morning hours. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ074-076-WVZ510>514-190845- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Higher Elevations of Fayette- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 344 AM EST Thu Jan 18 2024 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM FRIDAY TO 10 AM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Widespread accumulating snow will begin late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Widespread accumulating snow will continue into Friday night. The heaviest snow is expected during the morning hours. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
922 AM EST Thu Jan 18 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 E Canaan Heights 39.11N 79.35W
01/18/2024 M50 mph Tucker WV Mesonet
&&
Event Number PBZ2400829
CravenThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 winter weather, 4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total amounts ranged from 5 to 8 inches, with Connellsville recording the top of the range.
A storm total of 2 to 3 inches was inferred from a few reports.
Two to four inches of snow were reported in Ohioville, Monaca, Beaver, and Blackhawk. Far southern portions of the county may have received 5 inches.
Storm total snow of 3 to 4.5 inches was recorded, with the higher total at Cranberry.
A total of 2.8 inches fell at North Marble, with a general range of 2 to 4 inches likely in the county.
Storm total snow ranged from 10 to 16 inches. Farmington had the highest total.
Storm total snow amounts ranged from 3 to 10 inches from north to south across the county. Higher-end totals were noted at Fayetteville, Bethel Park, Jefferson Hills, and Bridgeville.
Two to four inches fell in the county.
A total of 3 to 5 inches fell in the county, with the high total at Oak Forest. Up to 6 to 7 inches may have fallen in isolated locations.
A few reports indicated that around 4 inches fell for a storm total.
A storm total of 2 to 4 inches was inferred from reports.
A storm total of 2 to 3.5 inches was inferred from public reports.
Around 4 inches of accumulation occurred, based on a report from Greenville.
Reports indicate 2 to 4.5 inches of accumulation, with Cooperstown on the higher end.
Storm total snow amounts generally ranged from 6 to 10 inches. Higher-end totals were received from Cecil and McDonald.
Totals generally ranged from 2 to 5 inches, although far southwestern portions of the county such as West Belle Vernon, Monessen, and West Newton received 6 to 8 inches.
Totals generally ranged from 2 to 5 inches, although far southwestern portions of the county such as West Belle Vernon, Monessen, and West Newton received 6 to 8 inches.
Reports indicate 2 to 5 inches of accumulation.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, January 2024
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1160387, 1160388, 1160389, 1160390, 1160391, 1160393, 1160394, 1160419, 1160420, 1160421, 1160422, 1160423, 1160424, 1160425, 1160426, 1160427, 1160428, 1160431.