Low pressure over the lower Mississippi Valley early on March 4th moved northeast to central Pennsylvania during the early morning hours of March 5th.  Precipitation associated with this storm spread into northwestern Pennsylvania during the early morning hours of the 4th.  The precipitation began as snow or sleet then changed to freezing rain during the afternoon hours.  The freezing rain continued into the early morning hours of March 5th then transitioned back to light snow.  Conditions deteriorated quickly during the evening of the 4th as temperatures fell a few degrees and thunderstorms moved across the area.   Significant ice accumulation occurred across northwestern Pennsylvania.  Scattered power outages, downed trees and accidents were reported throughout the area.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 04-MAR-08 03:00:00 to 05-MAR-08 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A mixture of freezing rain and snow began in Erie County during the early morning hours of March 4th.  This mixture ended around daybreak on the 4th.  Freezing rain redeveloped during the afternoon and continued into the early morning hours of March 5th.  Conditions quickly deteriorated after sunset as surface temperatures dropped a few degrees. Over a quarter inch of ice accumulation was reported on roads and sidewalks by 8 pm.  By the time the freezing rain changed to light snow just before daybreak on the 5th, as much as a half inch of ice accumulation had occurred in some areas.  The snow tapered to flurries by midday on the 5th after about an inch of accumulation.  Scattered power outages occurred as a result of the ice accumulation.  Extensive tree damage was reported in the county as well.  Many accidents were reported during this event.  Officially, 0.87 inches of precipitation,  fell at Erie International Airport on March 4th and 5th.  Most of this precipitation fell in the form of freezing rain with only 1.5 inches of snow reported during this event.

Winter Storm in CRAWFORD, PENNSYLVANIA
From 04-MAR-08 03:00:00 to 05-MAR-08 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A mixture of freezing rain and snow began in Crawford County during the early morning hours of March 4th.  This mixture ended around daybreak on the 4th.  Freezing rain redeveloped during the afternoon and continued into the early morning hours of March 5th.  Conditions quickly deteriorated after sunset as surface temperatures dropped a few degrees. Over a quarter inch of ice accumulation was reported on roads and sidewalks by 8 pm.  By the time the freezing rain changed to light snow just before daybreak on the 5th, as much as a half inch of ice accumulation had occurred in some areas.  The snow tapered to flurries by midday on the 5th after about an inch of accumulation.  Scattered power outages occurred as a result of the ice accumulation.  Extensive tree damage was reported in the county as well.  Many accidents were reported during this event.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 04-MAR-08 03:00:00 to 05-MAR-08 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A mixture of freezing rain and snow began in Erie County during the early morning hours of March 4th.  This mixture ended around daybreak on the 4th.  Freezing rain redeveloped during the afternoon and continued into the early morning hours of March 5th.  Conditions quickly deteriorated after sunset as surface temperatures dropped a few degrees. Over a quarter inch of ice accumulation was reported on roads and sidewalks by 8 pm.  By the time the freezing rain changed to light snow just before daybreak on the 5th, as much as a half inch of ice accumulation had occurred in some areas.  The snow tapered to flurries by midday on the 5th after about an inch of accumulation.  Scattered power outages occurred as a result of the ice accumulation.  Extensive tree damage was reported in the county as well.  Many accidents were reported during this event.