ERIE, PA – As most of the country continues with harsh winter weather, Erie gets its share of snow today through Monday. This is not lake-effect snow as the system moves into the region mainly from the southwest.
Snowfall totals through Monday afternoon reach close to 10 inches at the lakeshore. Anywhere south of Erie within Northwest Pennsylvania can get up to 15 inches. The higher amounts are found in the higher mountaintops.
Snowfall rates could reach up to 1 inch per hour this afternoon. This not only leads to slippery roads, but also visibility well below 1 mile. Suffice it to say, driving today is very difficult and not recommended unless it’s necessary. If you must drive, take it very slowly on the roads and leave enough space between you and other drivers.
People in Northwest Pennsylvania also need to prepare for another blast of cold weather. An extreme cold watch is in effect for Erie and Crawford Counties Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon. Wind chills drop to -15 to -25 degrees across these two counties. The coldest wind chills happen late Monday night. If you must go outside, dress in plenty of layers. Keep pets indoors as much as possible and protect any outdoor plumbing.
Even though this is not lake effect snow, what Erie is experiencing right now is nothing new. 3 and a half weeks ago, Erie received the kinds of snowfall amounts posted above. The recent cold weather is not new either. The last time Erie hit -5 was over a year ago.
To sum things up from Your Weather Authority:…