Pennsylvania, 2025

Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, February 20 to 21, 2025

February 20 to 21, 2025 · NWS CLE · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A surface trough developed over the Great Lakes on February 20th and lingered into February 21st before surface high pressure worked into the region. The trough focused cold, west-northwest flow across the partially unfrozen waters of Lake Erie, allowing for lake effect snow into Northwest Pennsylvania.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 surface trough developed over the Great Lakes on February 20th and lingered into February 21st before surface high pressure worked into the region. The trough focused cold, west-northwest flow across the partially unfrozen waters of Lake Erie, allowing for lake effect snow into Northwest Pennsylvania. This snow began organizing early on the 20th with peak rates during the day and through the evening on the 20th, when snow rates of up to 1 inch per hour occurred. With temperatures in the 10s to low 20s, this snow led to reduced visibility as low as one-quarter of a mile and snow-covered roads. Accidents were reported, with I-90 closed for a period of time during the morning of the 20th near Girard due to a multi-car accident. Snow gradually lessened in intensity overnight into the morning of the 21st. A peak snowfall of 11.5 inches was reported by a trained spotter in Edinboro, with 11 inches also reported in Greenfield and West Springfield Townships. 9.5 inches was reported in Millcreek, with 8 inches in Harborcreek, 7.8 inches in North East, 7.5 inches Northwest Harborcreek, and 6.8 inches in Erie.

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Lake-Effect Snow, Northern Erie

When
February 20, 6:00 AM EST to February 21, 10:00 AM EST
Where
Northern Erie forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 2 indirect
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A surface trough developed over the Great Lakes on February 20th and lingered into February 21st before surface high pressure worked into the region. The trough focused cold, west-northwest flow across the partially unfrozen waters of Lake Erie, allowing for lake effect snow into Northwest Pennsylvania. This snow began organizing early on the 20th with peak rates during the day and through the evening on the 20th, when snow rates of up to 1 inch per hour occurred. With temperatures in the 10s to low 20s, this snow led to reduced visibility as low as one-quarter of a mile and snow-covered roads. Accidents were reported, with I-90 westbound closed at Exit 16 during the morning of the 20th due to a multi-vehicle accident. This accident resulted in two injuries. Snow gradually lessened in intensity overnight into the morning of the 21st. A peak snowfall of 8 inches was reported by a trained spotter in Harborcreek, with 7.8 inches in Northeast, 7.5 inches in Northwest Harborcreek, and 6.8 inches in Erie. Erie International Airport measured 4.5 inches of snow with this storm.

Lake-Effect Snow, Southern Erie

When
February 20, 6:00 AM EST to February 21, 10:00 AM EST
Where
Southern Erie forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A surface trough developed over the Great Lakes on February 20th and lingered into February 21st before surface high pressure worked into the region. The trough focused cold, west-northwest flow across the partially unfrozen waters of Lake Erie, allowing for lake effect snow into Northwest Pennsylvania. This snow began organizing early on the 20th with peak rates during the day and through the evening on the 20th, when snow rates of up to 1 inch per hour occurred. With temperatures in the 10s to low 20s, this snow led to reduced visibility as low as one-quarter of a mile and snow-covered roads. Accidents were reported. Snow gradually lessened in intensity overnight into the morning of the 21st. A peak snowfall of 11.5 inches was reported by a trained spotter in Edinboro, with other spotters reporting 11 inches in West Springfield and Greenfield Townships, 9.5 inches in Millcreek Township, and 8.5 inches in Greene Township. A CoCoRaHS observer in Corry measured 7 inches.

What these are

Lake-Effect Snow
Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, February 2025

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1267322, 1267323.