During a busy time right after Thanksgiving, when people were traveling home, shopping for holidays and meeting their loved ones- friends and family members, a powerful snowstorm of the season swept across parts of New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania during the weekend.
Weather experts predicted heavy snow
Forecasters predicted extreme cold temperatures and heavy snow would continue into the week, making travel in areas like the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest dangerous. Due to snow storm, officials declared an emergency in parts of New York, and Pennsylvania officials issued a disaster declaration, urging people to be careful as they travel back home after the holiday.
Cold advisories in parts of North Dakota
The weather service reported that a surge of Arctic air brought extremely cold temperatures to the Northern Plains, dropping them 10 to 20 degrees below normal and leading to cold advisories in parts of North Dakota. By Monday, this frigid air was expected to move across the eastern third of the U.S., bringing temperatures around 10 degrees below normal.
Snowfall covers many areas
Parts of New York, Michigan and Ohio saw nearly 2 feet of snow. Pennsylvania’s northwestern tip recorded 29 inches. The Buffalo Weather Service reported snowfall ranging between a foot and 18 inches in towns and villages near Lakes Ontario and Erie, including a 24-inch recorded in a place near the Pennsylvania border by 7 a.m. ET Saturday. Forecasters said that more snow accumulated across the region by early afternoon.
More snowfall predictions and warning issued
The weather service predicted more snowfall on Sunday and warned areas like east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario might possibly receive one or two feet of snow. Forecasts predicted that in Jefferson County, snow would fall at a rate of 3-4 inches per hour throughout the day.
Snow was expected to return to Cleveland on Sunday. Weather service meteorologists predicted 6 to 18 inches of new snow would build up in an area from the city to the Pennsylvania-New York state line through Tuesday.
Travel could be difficult to impossible
On Sunday, the National Weather Service warned that travel could be difficult or even impossible in the areas where snowfall was expected to continue through the start of the week.
Snowfall in Ohio and Pennsylvania
On Sunday morning, the weather service in Cleveland said that snow would increase its intensity throughout the day and gradually spread south across most of the primary snow belt. Forecasters added that snowfall would continue periodically through Tuesday morning, with heavy accumulation expected on Sunday and snowfall rates exceeding an inch per hour in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Snowfall in New York bury vehicles
In some parts of New York, snow fell as fast as three inches per hour, covering vehicles and making it difficult for drivers to see.
Snowfall to impact these places
The weather service had issued an alert on Saturday afternoon that the heaviest snowfall was expected downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario, impacting areas from northeast Ohio to far northwest Pennsylvania, and parts of western and northwest New York.
State prepared for the storm
On Saturday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul told The Associated Press in a phone interview with WWNY-TV that the state had been preparing for the storm for days by deploying snowplows, thousands of workers and consulting with utility providers. Kathy also sent personnel from other parts of the state to assist.
She was quoted by CBS news as saying, “I know it’s something they’re all accustomed to and they can handle, but I want to let them know we are there with reinforcements and to make sure everyone can travel safely, especially over this really busy holiday weekend.”
Snowfall in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who signed a disaster emergency proclamation, mentioned that nearly 2 feet of snow had fallen in parts of Erie County, and more was expected through Monday night.
Officials reported that Pennsylvania State Police responded nearly 200 incidents from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m Saturday. Part of I-90 in Pennsylvania and the westbound lanes of the New York Thruway leading to Pennsylvania were closed.
Travel disruption due to snow and slippery conditions
Until further notice, the city of Erie, Pennsylvania said that only emergency responders, essential workers, and those facing medical emergencies could travel. The snow and slippery conditions caused cars to get stuck, which obstructed intersections and streets. Residents were asked to remain indoors and allow crews to work on clearing the neighbourhoods.
Since some roads in northwestern Pennsylvania were blocked, many travelers took shelter in the lobby and hallways of a Holiday Inn near I-90. A hotel worker Jeremiah Weatherley said they they had opened the conference room and gave blankets to those in need, explaining that they didn’t want to turn anyone away.
Snowfall in Michigan
Lake-effect snow hit parts of Michigan. This happens when warm and moist air from a lake rises and mixes with cold and dry air above, leading to heavy snowfall.
Lily Chapman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Marquette, Michigan, said that snow coming off from Lake Superior dropped over 2 feet (61 cm) of snow in parts of the Upper Peninsula.
Snowfall in Upper Peninsula and Munising
In the Upper Peninsula’s western reaches, the area northeast of Ironwood saw 27 inches of snow. In the eastern part, Munising received around two feet of snow.
Lake-effect snow to continue
State officials warned that continuing lake-effect snow could bring more than a foot of snow to the eastern Upper Peninsula through Monday morning, while the western areas are expected to receive 6 to 10 inches or more.
Snowfall in Michigan
According to Keith Berger of the weather service’s Gaylord office, Gaylord, Michigan, received 24.8 inches of snow on Friday, setting the city’s record for the most snow in one day. The previous record of 17 inches was set on March 9, 1942.
According to Recreation Director Doug Hoeh, for Treetops Resort, which has 80 acres of ski hill terrain within its 2,000-acre property, the snowfall was good news as it helped build up the snow base, which snowmaking machines will add to before the resort opens next weekend. He added, “Obviously, when you get that much snow, it’s great for the ski hills, but it’s bad for the parking lots, so we’re busy digging out.”
