More than 7 inches of new snow, city of Erie declares snow emergency through Sunday

Matthew Rink, Erie Times-News

February 4, 2022 at 1:14 PM·3 min read

A winter storm warning expired at 7 a.m. Friday. A winter weather advisory is in effect until noon Friday.

Check back for updates on the weather, and news of its effects on the region.

City of Erie declares snow emergency

Erie Mayor Joe Schember on Friday morning declared a citywide snow emergency that extends through Sunday.

The declaration extends odd-even parking regulations on posted streets within city limits throughout the weekend.

Odd-even parking rules, typically in effect on weekdays between Nov. 1 and March 31, regulate parking during the winter months to make it easier for city streets crews to plow snow.

Parking is limited to one side of the street in certain areas, depending on the day, and street signs indicate which sides are odd and which are even.

City officials are asking residents stay off city streets as much as possible to allow crews to plow snow.

For more information, go to cityof.erie.pa.us or the city’s Facebook page.

Snow storm updates

This week's snowstorm dumped dumped more than a half-foot of snow in Erie County.

Next up: Visibility issues Friday morning and "Arctic" cold Friday night through Saturday.

Meanwhile, PennDOT has lifted the vehicle restrictions and speed limit reduction on Interstate 86 and Interstate 90 in Erie County, but they remain in place on other roads in the northwest region and throughout the state. To get up-to-date information, go to 511PA.com.

In the northwest region, a speed limit reduction to 45 mph remains in effect on Interstate 79 from its starting point in Erie County to the West Virginia state line in Greene County.

Parents and children walk north on German Street in Erie on Thursday afternoon. Most sidewalks are packed with snow already, making it difficult for anyone trying to navigate on foot. A strong winter storm brought heavy winds and snow across the northeast U.S.

Snow totals

The official storm snowfall total Thursday through 7 a.m. Friday, when the winter storm warning expired, was 7.6 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

That was at Erie International Airport. Weather-spotters in some areas measured higher totals. The Weather Service was still compiling their reports Friday morning.

"At a best guess, it was a 6- to 10-inch storm, depending on location," said meteorologist Jim Sullivan.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until noon Friday though less than an inch of new snow is forecast. Winds up to 17 mph could blow snow that's already fallen, reducing visibility at times.

"The advisory basically is for lingering effects from the snow already on the ground," Sullivan said.

MORE: The best of snow, the worst of snow in Erie winter present and past

Rain and freezing rain preceded the snow on Wednesday.

Anticipation of the snow Thursday prompted area school districts to shift to two-hour delays or virtual instruction.

It also led to the cancellation of flights at Erie International Airport Thursday and early Friday.

"It happens every time. Well, almost every time," said Rick Fresch, on Thursday, talking about snow plows that push snow back onto his driveway at West 11th Street and Guetner Avenue in Millcreek Township. Fresch had just finished clearing Thursday's snow from his driveway when a plow went by. A winter storm dropped about three inches of snow on most of the region by noon on Wednesday.

More: Which schools' classes are delayed or canceled? The latest from around the Erie area

More: Salt before snow: How Erie approached snowstorm in inner-city

The snow that fell early in the storm was heavy and wet, but as temperatures dropped it became lighter and easier to manage, meteorologist Karen Clark said Thursday.

"It started off that way because we had all that rain (Wednesday) and we were so warm," she said. It's really sort of a changing type of snow where it starts off heavy and wet and then it gets lighter as we get later into the snowstorm."

The forecast for the Erie region calls for "Arctic temperatures" Friday night through Saturday. Friday's high is expected to be 22 degrees. Low temperature Friday night is expected to be around 10 degrees.

High Saturday will be about 18. Low will be about 14 degrees.

Temperatures Sunday are expected to edge above freezing.

Jerry Fisher spreads a melting agent on the ice and snow that acumulated overnight on Gannon University sidewalks on Thursday in downtown Erie.

Get the latest weather forecast and radar for your ZIP code at goerie.com/news/weather. Sign up for news alerts at profile.goerie.com/newsletters/manage to receive daily weather forecasts by text or email.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Winter storm warning for Erie: Rain, possible ice, snow in forecast

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City of Erie declares snow emergency

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