- Erie County is under a lake-effect snow warning through Friday morning, with heavy snow, high winds and low wind chills expected.
- The heaviest snowfall is forecast across the northern part of the county, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches expected, and up to 16 inches in some areas.
- Travel could be difficult at times, and speed and vehicle restrictions are in effect on area interstates.
Heavy snow, high winds and falling temperatures and wind chills are in the Friday forecast for Erie County.
The National Weather Service in Cleveland’s lake-effect snow warning for Erie County extends until Friday at 7 a.m.
The weather service notes that travel could be difficult at times, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has activated speed or vehicle restrictions on interstates throughout northwestern Pennsylvania.
More:How many vehicles were stuck/abandoned in Erie during the recent snowstorm, and where?
How much lake-effect snow will Erie County get?
Including early-morning Thursday, the weather service forecasts 6 inches to 12 inches of new accumulation, and up to 16 inches in some places.
Lake-effect snow over Lake Erie is expected to intensify Thursday morning and move onshore. The heaviest snowfall is forecast across the northern county, with rates of 1 inch to 2 inches per hour likely through the early afternoon.
Possible Thursday daytime snowfall projections around the county:
- Albion, 3 inches to 7 inches
- Corry, 1 inch to 3 inches
- Cranesville, 3 inches to 7 inches
- Edinboro, 2 inches to 4 inches
- Erie, 5 inches to 9 inches
- Fairview, 4 inches to 8 inches
- Girard, 4 inches to 8 inches
- Harborcreek Township, 2 inches to 4 inches
- McKean, 4 inches to 8 inches
- North East, 5 inches to 9 inches
- Union City, an inch to 3 inches
- Waterford, 3 inches to 5 inches
- Wattsburg, 3 inches to 5 inches
The snow band is expected to shift offshore by evening, though lighter snow is in the Thursday night forecast.
Winds will gust to as high as 40 mph, driving down wind chills to single digits or near zero, the weather service said. AccuWeather’s RealFeel composite index suggests conditions will feel as if they are below zero during the day Thursday.
Erie County weather forecast
The weather service in Cleveland calls for snow showers, heavy at times and possibly accumulating 5 inches to 9 inches in Erie. Widespread blowing snow is expected from west winds of 21 mph to 30 mph. The high temperature will be around 25 degrees.
Your questions answered:What causes lake-effect snow?
An additional 2 inches to 4 inches of snow is forecast for Thursday night, when the low will be around 18.
Snow showers are most likely Friday before 10 a.m. Accumulation of an inch of snow or less is possible. The high will be around 26 and the low near 17.
Saturday is forecast to be partly sunny, with a high near 38 and a low around 31. The high temperature in the advance forecast is at least 38 daily through Tuesday.
● Crawford County is under a winter weather advisory until Friday at 7 a.m. The weather service at Cleveland says additional accumulations of 3 inches to 5 inches of lake-effect snow is possible, with the heaviest snowfall in the north through early afternoon Thursday.
Interstate restrictions in northwestern Pennsylvania
PennDOT overnight reduced the speed limit to 45 mph on Interstate 80 from the Ohio state line to Exit 42 in Venango County. Commercial vehicles are limited to travel in the right lane only.
Tier 3 weather event vehicle restrictions are in effect in Erie County on I-86 from the New York state line to the I-90 interchange and I-90 from the New York line to the Ohio state line. No commercial vehicles are permitted other than loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices. School buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles towing trailers are not permitted while restrictions are in place.
More:What’s the weather like around Erie County and nearby? Take a tour by webcam
Chautauqua County could get feet of snow
The weather service in Buffalo has a lake-effect snow warning in place for Chautauqua County and surrounding areas in New York until Friday at 1 p.m.
Heavy lake-effect snow is forecast, piling up 2 feet to 3 feet in places, especially across the western part of Chautauqua County. Snow is expected to fall in relatively narrow bands; a driver could encounter rapidly different road conditions and visibilities. There could be whiteout conditions at times.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in parts of western New York. The New York State Thruway Authority has temporarily banned tandem and empty tractor trailer trucks in both directions on I-90 from Exit 53 west to the Pennsylvania state line.
More:Stranded in the snow in Erie County? When to call 211 instead of 911
Get the latest Erie-area weather details
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.