A strong cold front moved east across northeastern Pennsylvania late on December 31st.  Cold north to northwest winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop early on January 1st.  Intermittent snow showers were then reported for several days.  This activity finally diminished during the afternoon and evening hours of January 5th.  Moderate to heavy snow was reported at times with snowfall rates approaching two inches per hour with the most intense bands.  Drier air finally began to move into the area on January 5th causing the snow showers to finally dissipate late in the day.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 25 mph on the 2nd and to 35 mph on the 3rd.  These winds combined with the snow caused near whiteout conditions at times.  Snowfall amounts varied considerably across Erie and Crawford Counties.  Totals ranged from around a foot near Lake Erie to nearly five feet in northern Crawford County.  Peak totals in Erie County were over four feet during this event.  Travel was severely hampered during this event and hundreds of accidents were reported.

Lake-Effect Snow in CRAWFORD, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 05-JAN-10 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Lake effect snow showers began in Crawford County during the morning of January 1st.  Moderate to heavy snow showers then continued through the afternoon hours of the 4th.  From the evening of the 4th through the evening of the 5th the snow shower activity was very scattered with most areas seeing only occasional light snow or flurries.  Some of the heaviest snow fell during the afternoon of the 3rd with snowfall rates approaching two inches per hour at times.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 25 mph on the 2nd and 3rd.  These strong winds resulted in considerable blowing and drifting along with visibilities near zero at times.  Snowfall totals across Crawford County varied considerably during this five day event with the greatest amounts reported across the northern and central portions of the county.  A peak total from the 1st through the 5th of 59.2 inches was measured southwest of Conneautville.  Most of that snow fell on the 2nd and 3rd.  Significantly less snow was reported in southern Crawford County with Titusville in the southeast corner of the county seeing only 14.5 inches during this event.  Other five day totals across the county included:  51.1 inches northwest of Crossingville and 46.5 inches near Meadville.  Drifts as much as 6 feet tall were reported in the county.  Travel was severely hampered during this event and many accidents were reported.

Lake-Effect Snow in SOUTHERN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-JAN-10 08:00:00 to 05-JAN-10 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Lake effect snow showers began in Erie County during the morning of January 1st.  Moderate to heavy snow showers then continued through the afternoon hours of the 4th.  From the evening of the 4th through midday on the 5th the snow shower activity was very scattered with most areas seeing only occasional light snow or flurries.  Some of the heaviest snow fell during the afternoon of the 3rd with snowfall rates approaching two inches per hour at times.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 25 mph on the 2nd and 3rd.  These strong winds resulted in considerable blowing and drifting along with visibilities near zero at times.  Snowfall totals across inland Erie County during this five day event were generally between two and three feet.  A peak total from the 1st through the 5th of 43.5 inches was measured at Edinboro.  Most of that snow fell on the 2nd and 3rd.  Other five day totals across the county included:  42.4 inches in Amity Township; 37.0 inches south of North East and 33.5 inches at Pont.  Drifts as much as 6 feet tall were reported in the county.  Travel was severely hampered during this event and many accidents were reported.