The lake-effect snow that is pummeling Erie County will give residents and travelers a seat at the table in the future with those who talk about such holiday weather events as the 1956 Thanksgiving storm and the 2017 Christmas snowmageddon.
Erie International Airport measured 22.6 inches of new snow Friday, according to National Weather Service data. That total may be more or less than fell elsewhere in the region, but unofficially it would break Erie’s one-day record snow total of 21.8 inches that fell Dec. 26, 2017.
But before we can wax nostalgic we’ll need to get through the next few days of snow and cold. Erie County is under local disaster emergency, the city of Erie has enacted a snow emergency and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has vehicle restrictions in place on parts of interstates, 79, 90 and 86.
The latest weather updates from Saturday. Return for updates.
Lake-effect snow warning extended for Erie County
The National Weather Service in Cleveland has extended a lake-effect snow warning for Erie County until Tuesday at 7 a.m. Snow in addition to what already is on the ground could accumulate by 42 inches during the warning period.
Ten inches to 20 inches of new snow could fall Saturday, according to the weather service. An additional 10 inches to 15 inches is possible Sunday through Monday.
If that were to happen, the storm total would wind up between 4 feet and 6 feet.
Disaster emergency declared in Erie County
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis late Friday signed a local disaster emergency order.
The declaration directs the county emergency management coordinator “to take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the effects of this disaster, to aid in the restoration of essential public services, and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to respond to this emergency.”
County officials are authorized under the declaration to reassign employees, take on temporary workers, rent equipment, purchase supplies and materials and enter into necessary agreements “all without regard to those time-consuming procedures and formalities normally prescribed by law, mandatory constitutional requirements excepted.”
City of Erie declares snow emergency
Mayor Joe Schember on Friday afternoon declared a snow emergency for the City of Erie through the weekend.
Odd-even parking regulations in the city are extended through Saturday and Sunday so that plows clear snow and emergency vehicles are able to pass over city streets. The city said in a news release that Erie police will ticket and two that do not abide by odd-even regulations.
On even calendar days, like Saturday, Nov. 30, vehicles in the city that use on-street parking should locate to the south or east side of the street. On odd calendar days, like Sunday, Dec. 1, park on the north or west side.
Those who live on cul-de-sacs are asked to park in their driveways. In areas where there is not odd-even parking, the city requests coordination so parking is entirely on the same side of the street.
Residents are asked to remain off city streets as much as possible.
Interstates 79, 86, 90 under vehicle restrictions
PennDOT has temporarily shut down travel on two roadways: Interstate 90 eastbound and westbound lanes from Interstate 79 to the New York state line, and I-86 westbound lanes from I-90 to the New York state line.
The full lengths of I-90 and I-86 are under a Tier 4 vehicle restriction with a 45 mph speed limit. Interstate 79 from Meadville to Erie also is under a Tier 4 restriction.
Find the latest travel advisories from PennDOT at 511PA.com.
The New York State Thruway Authority has closed I-90 from the Exit 57 at Hamburg to the Pennsylvania state line. All westbound traffic must exit at exit 57. Commercial vehicles are banned from I-90 in both directions from Exit 46 (Rochester/Corning/I-390) to the Pennsylvania line.
National attention for snowfall
National news organizations reported about and storm chasers descended Friday on Erie County, streaming live to audiences on YouTube. One, Storm Chaser Brandon Copic, of Toledo, picked up a driver stranded on Interstate 90 and got her safely to an Upper Peach Street hotel as more than 5,000 appreciative viewers watched the stream.
Is power out in Erie County or nearby?
Only a handful of power outages were evident early Saturday.
Saturday EMTA service delayed
The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority reported on its Facebook page that fixed-route operations will be delayed until noon Saturday and LIFT trips will be for medical trips only.
EMTA ceased service Friday at 6 p.m.
For up-to-date information, visit ride-the-e.com, EMTA’s Facebook page or the myStop app.
The latest on Erie International Airport flights
As of early Saturday, one of the day’s four departing flights was expected to be delayed at Erie International Airport, according to the airport’s flight tracker.
American 5851, scheduled to depart at 6:15 a.m. for Charlotte, now has an estimated departure time of 10 a.m. and arrival time of 12:05 p.m., according to American Airlines.
Friday:Is Erie International Airport canceling flights? The latest updates
Erie County Public Library locations closed Saturday
All Erie County Public Library locations ― Blasco Library, Bookmobile, Edinboro Branch Library, Iroquois Branch Library, Lincoln Community Center Branch Library and Millcreek Branch Library ― are closed Saturday. Blasco Library has also canceled Sunday hours.
Small Business Saturday event delayed
The Miracle on State Street event for Small Business Saturday set to take place in downtown Erie has been postponed to Dec. 7.
More:Parts of Small Business Saturday event in downtown Erie postponed because of weather
Deer hunting season starts Saturday across Pa.
Hunters prefer a dusting of snow on the ground to make tracking easier. Hunters who insist on heading into the woods in northwestern Pennsylvania on Saturday, the first day of the firearms season that runs until Dec. 14, will get a lot more than they bargained for.
More:From legal hunting hours to orange clothing, what Pa. rifle deer hunters need to know
Erie County, Pa., weather 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.
