Cold blast from the past: Lowest air temperature recorded in Erie was 30 years ago
Will Erie have a record-breaking day of subzero temperatures this winter? If so, it would have to eclipse the mark first set on Jan. 19, 1994.
Friday marks the 30th anniversary of the lowest air temperature ever recorded in Erie County, 18 below zero.
The previous Erie record for coldest temperature occurred Feb. 11, 1979, when the temperature reached 17 below.
What was is like around Erie on Jan. 19, 1994?
National Weather Service records show that on Jan. 19, 1994, the air temperature was a frigid 18 degrees below zero. This was later matched on Feb. 16, 2015.
The whole Northeastern was dealing with a power shortage that caused electrical companies to shut power off randomly at select districts for 15 minutes to 30 minutes at a time.
This power outage also caused multiple school districts to close. An emergency warming shelter was set up at McDowell High School following an electrical failure in eastern Fairview and west Millcreek Township.
Most stores were closed by 5 p.m. or 9 p.m. in order to help conserve energy.
More than 100 high school and college students were called upon to assist with Project Dig Out, an effort by the United Way of Erie County to get rid of mounds of snow in major intersections downtown.
Every intersection from Second Street to 18th Street was assigned to a team of volunteers. Students from Cathedral Preparatory School and Gannon and Mercyhurst assisted.
February 2015
The Erie Times-News reported in February 2015 that the average monthly temperature was 13.1 degrees, making it the coldest February on record, with a total of 31.5 inches of snow. The coldest day of that month came Feb. 16, matching the Erie record of 18 below.
It was a month that featured only four days with temperatures above freezing and nine days with low temperatures below zero.
From the archive: February 2015 was Erie's coldest February ever
Snow, cold heading into this weekend
The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a winter storm warning for Erie and Crawford counties through Sunday at 4 a.m.
The Friday forecast calls for a high of 25 degrees. There is a 60% chance of snow showers at night with the low near 14 degrees.
The snow will continue throughout the afternoon Friday. The snow is expected to accumulate from 6 to 8 inches or more in some regions.
Saturday's expected high temperature is 23, with a low of 20. Erie has a 90% chance of snow with 2 to 6 inches predicted. The snow will taper off Sunday with less than an inch projected. High temperature will be 27 with a low of 17.
More Erie weather information
Get the latest weather forecast and radar for your ZIP code at goerie.com/weather. Download the GoErie app for a mobile-friendly forecast page.
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County PA: Lowest air temperature on record was Jan.19, 1994
