No rest for the snow-weary: Weather service issues blizzard warning ...

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City of Erie, PA, uses graders to clear lake-effect snow from main roads

On Dec. 4, 2024, city of Erie streets crews use a grader and other heavy equipment to clear snow from busy West Sixth Street in the area east of Pittsburgh Avenue.

• Erie County is under a blizzard warning until Saturday at 1 a.m. due to heavy lake-effect snow and high winds.
• Surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio are also under lake-effect snow warnings, with significant snowfall expected.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has implemented speed reductions and Tier 3 restrictions on interstates 79, 86 and 90, prohibiting certain vehicles.

All of Erie County is now under a blizzard warning through Saturday at 1 a.m. and the rest of the region faces lake-effect snow warnings.

The National Weather Service in Cleveland upgraded Erie County from a lake-effect storm warning. Ten inches to 18 inches of new snow accumulation is possible north of Interstate 90 and 12 inches to 20 inches south of the interstate, with locally higher totals possible in the south.

More: Erie School District schools closed for rest of week. What about other schools?

Erie County blizzard warning details

• Winds will gust up to 60 mph north of I-90 and up to 50 mph south of I-90, mainly Thursday morning, according to the weather service.
• Visibility is expected to be less than a quarter-mile because of falling and blowing snow. Whiteout conditions will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. "Travel is expected to be impossible today and should be postponed," the weather service advised.
• Significant drifting is likely, and high winds could bring down trees and tree limbs and cause power outages. High winds and the existing deep snowpack could lead to damage to structures.
• Lake-effect snow with the strongest winds and blizzard conditions are expected through midday Thursday but will persist after that.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has implemented Tier 3 restrictions and a 45-mph speed limit on the lengths of interstates 90 and 86 in Pennsylvania and on I-79 between I-80 and the Erie terminus. No commercial vehicles are permitted except loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices. All school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.

Erie County weather forecast

The weather service forecast for Erie Thursday is for snow showers, heavy at times and possibly accumulating 3 inches to 5 inches. There will be widespread blowing snow, mainly early. Wind will be from the west at 28 to 31 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. The high temperature will be around 32.

More snow showers are expected Thursday night, mainly before 11 p.m. Another inch of snow is possible. Watch for patches of blowing snow. Northwest wind will start to decrease in intensity after midnight, but could gust as high as 44 mph. The low will be around 26.

More: What's the weather like around Erie County and nearby? Take a tour by webcam

Snow showers are expected to continue Friday, accumulating an inch to 3 inches. West wind will be steady at 15 mph to 23 mph. The high will be around 31.

Snow Friday night could be heavy at times, with 3 inches to 5 inches of new accumulation possible. Wind will be from the west at 17 mph to 21 mph. The low will be near 26.

Snow showers are likely to start tapering Saturday by 1 p.m., but another inch to 2 inches of snowfall is possible. The high will be around 34 and the low near 30.

Erie County extended weather forecast

The high temperature is forecast to soar to 44 Sunday, according to the weather service. It'll be breezy and partly sunny.

Showers are likely overnight, when the low will be around 39.

The high temperature could approach 50 Monday and Tuesday, with a chance of rain showers day and night, possibly mixing with snow overnight.

Other northwestern Pennsylvania, nearby weather forecasts

• Crawford County is under a lake-effect snow warning from the weather service in Cleveland until Saturday at 1 a.m. Additional snow accumulations between 10 inches and 20 inches are possible, and higher amounts where there are the most persistent snow bands. Winds will gust as high as 50 mph, mainly Thursday morning.
• Warren County is under a lake-effect snow warning until Friday at 8 p.m., according to the weather service in State College. Expect additional snow accumulations between 3 inches and 12 inches and winds gusting as high as 45 mph. Whiteout conditions are expected at times.
• Venango, Mercer, Forest and Clarion counties are under a lake-effect snow warning through Friday at 1 p.m., according to the weather service in Pittsburgh. Watch for new snow accumulations between 6 inches and 12 inches and winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
• The weather service in Buffalo has issued a lake-effect snow warning for Chautauqua County, New York, until Saturday at 4 a.m. Additional snow accumulations of 10 inches to 18 inches are possible in the most persistent lake snows. Winds will gust up to 50 mph, producing blowing and drifting snow.
• The weather service in Cleveland has a lake-effect snow warning in place for Ashtabula County, Ohio, through Saturday at 1 a.m. The forecast calls for 6 inches to 12 inches of heavy lake-effect snow, with locally higher amounts possible, especially in the higher terrain of eastern Ashtabula County. Winds will gust as high as 55 mph.

Stay up to date on Erie-area weather

Return to GoErie.com for updates. Get the latest AccuWeather forecast details and radar images for your ZIP code at goerie.com/weather. Download the GoErie app for iOS or Android for mobile-friendly forecasts. Tour Erie-area conditions by webcams.