An area of low pressure moved across the central Great Lakes on December 15th.  Cold air behind this system caused lake effect snow showers to develop downwind of Lake Erie.  The snow showers began late in the afternoon of the 15th and continued till late in the afternoon on the 16th.  The snow showers were intermittent during the daylight hours of the 16th.  The heaviest snow fell during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 15th when visibilities were less than a half mile at times.  Snowfall rates approached two inches per hour at the peak of the storm.  Six to ten inches of snow fell across much of Erie County.  A peak total of 17.0 inches was reported at Colt Station with 13.2 inches measured at Erie International Airport on the 15th and 16th.  Other totals included 11.0 inches at North East, 10.3 inches at Waterford; 10.0 inches southeast of Erie, 9.7 inches at Wattsburg; 9.6 inches at Girard; 9.5 inches at Millcreek and 9.5 inches at McKeen.  Southwest winds gusted to as much as 25 mph during this event causing some blowing and drifting.  Travel was hampered by this snow and many accidents were reported.

Lake-Effect Snow in NORTHERN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 15-DEC-17 16:00:00 to 16-DEC-17 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

An area of low pressure moved across the central Great Lakes on December 15th. Cold air behind this system caused lake effect snow showers to develop downwind of Lake Erie. The snow showers began late in the afternoon of the 15th and continued till late in the afternoon on the 16th. The snow showers were intermittent during the daylight hours of the 16th. The heaviest snow fell during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 15th when visibilities were less than a half mile at times. Snowfall rates approached two inches per hour at the peak of the storm. Six to ten inches of snow fell across much of Erie County. A peak total of 17.0 inches was reported at Colt Station with 13.2 inches measured at Erie International Airport on the 15th and 16th. Other totals included 11.0 inches at North East, 10.3 inches at Waterford; 10.0 inches southeast of Erie, 9.7 inches at Wattsburg; 9.6 inches at Girard; 9.5 inches at Millcreek and 9.5 inches at McKeen. Southwest winds gusted to as much as 25 mph during this event causing some blowing and drifting. Travel was hampered by this snow and many accidents were reported.

Lake-Effect Snow in SOUTHERN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 15-DEC-17 16:00:00 to 16-DEC-17 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

An area of low pressure moved across the central Great Lakes on December 15th. Cold air behind this system caused lake effect snow showers to develop downwind of Lake Erie. The snow showers began late in the afternoon of the 15th and continued till late in the afternoon on the 16th. The snow showers were intermittent during the daylight hours of the 16th. The heaviest snow fell during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 15th when visibilities were less than a half mile at times. Snowfall rates approached two inches per hour at the peak of the storm. Six to ten inches of snow fell across much of Erie County. A peak total of 17.0 inches was reported at Colt Station with 13.2 inches measured at Erie International Airport on the 15th and 16th. Other totals included 11.0 inches at North East, 10.3 inches at Waterford; 10.0 inches southeast of Erie, 9.7 inches at Wattsburg; 9.6 inches at Girard; 9.5 inches at Millcreek and 9.5 inches at McKeen. Southwest winds gusted to as much as 25 mph during this event causing some blowing and drifting. Travel was hampered by this snow and many accidents were reported.