First Major Snowfall in the Big Big Break Break Event on Saturday, September 10. The Weather Service in Gaylord, Pennsylvania, Revisited
The weather service office in Gaylord, Michigan said that a new single-day record had been set by the 24.8 inches of snow that fell on Friday. The previous record of 17.0 inches (43 centimeters) was from March 9, 1942.
Cities across northern parts of lower Michigan and eastern Upper Michigan, will see lake effect snow through Monday night that will create “hazardous travel conditions”, the NWS said. Some cities in the lower Michigan peninsula have already received 2 to 3 feet of snow, according to Oravec.
BUFFALO, N.Y. The towns along Lake Erie had their first major snowfall on Saturday in the middle of the holiday travel and shopping weekend. There were predictions of cold and heavy snow which were expected to persist into next week.
In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency and said parts of Erie County in the state’s northwest had already received nearly 2 feet (1 meter) of snow with more expected through Monday night.
“The travel will be very difficult and hazardous this weekend, especially in areas where multiple feet of snow may accumulate very quickly,” the National Weather Service said.
Part of I-90 in Pennsylvania was closed, as were westbound lanes of the New York Thruway heading toward Pennsylvania. Nearly 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow fell in parts of New York, Ohio and Michigan, and 29 inches (73 centimeters) was recorded in Pennsylvania’s northwestern tip.
The city of Erie, Pennsylvania, said travel was being limited to emergency responders and essential employees and cases of medical emergency until further notice due. The snow and slippery conditions resulted in vehicles getting stuck and blocking intersections and streets, officials said, and people were urged to shelter in place and allow crews to clear neighborhoods during a lull in the storm.
With roads in some parts impassable in northwestern Pennsylvania, scores of people took refuge overnight in the lobby and hallways of a fully booked Holiday Inn near I-90. Dozens of people rolled in as the snow piled up and the conference room was opened to give them blankets to sleep on, says a hotel staffer.
The Buffalo Bills are in desperate need of fans’ help to clear snow from Highmark Stadium ahead of their match against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. While the game is slated to still take place, the halftime drone show has been postponed.
This week’s blast of Arctic air also brought bitter temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains, the weather service said, prompting cold advisories for parts of North Dakota.
Twenty-seven inches (69 centimeters) of snow was on the ground just northeast of Ironwood, in the Upper Peninsula’s western reaches, she said. The eastern part of the peninsula has seen more than 2 feet fall in Munising.
The Treetops resort has 80 acres of ski hill terrain and its director said that the snowfall was good news. It boosted the base in the run-up to the opening of the resort next weekend.
“Obviously when you get that much snowfall, it’s great for the snow hills, but it’s bad for the parking lots, so we’re kind of digging out,” Hoeh said. “But we’re close to being ready to pull the trigger on skiing, and the natural snowfall definitely helps.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s Call for Avoidance of Unnecessary Travel in I-90 through Lake Effect Snowfall Wednesday through Thursday
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for several counties, including Erie county, where the city of Buffalo is located, and is urging residents to “avoid unnecessary travel.” Commercial vehicles are not allowed on a portion of I-90 according to the state’s department of transportation.
Weather officials caution that parts of the state, including the Watertown area, could see more snow Wednesday night to Thursday night, with wind gusts over 40 miles per hour.
Snow is also blanketing parts of Ohio and lake effect snow warnings will continue through Tuesday morning for cities like Cleveland and surrounding Cuyahoga County. Northeastern parts of the county are forecast to receive between 6 and 18 inches of snow that could lead to whiteout conditions and make “travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” according to Cleveland weather officials.
Lt. Adam Reed of the Pennsylvania State Police communications office said that state troopers were responding to “weather related crashes” and also helping stranded drivers.
“Our teams at PEMA, the Pennsylvania State Police, and PennDOT are on the ground helping their fellow Pennsylvanians as the impacts of heavy lake-effect snow hit Erie County,” he said in a statement. “Stay off the roads if you can, be safe, and follow instructions from PEMA and your local authorities.”
Heavy snowfall will continue to bury portions of the Northeast and upper Midwest this week as officials warn of travel impacts and dangerous conditions.