Erie forecast: High winds bring widespread power outages, difficult travel

Erie Times-News
Updated ·4 min read

Presque Isle State Park was closed to the public Tuesday morning after high winds knocked down power lines and trees.

Power was disrupted at the park around 11 a.m., according to a post on the park's website. Some of the downed trees were blocking the park's roadways.

A large tree fell between two houses located on the northwest corner of West Tenth and Raspberry streets in Erie on Jan. 9, 2024. High winds caused trees to fall throughout Erie County Tuesday, leaving many residents without power.
A large tree fell between two houses located on the northwest corner of West Tenth and Raspberry streets in Erie on Jan. 9, 2024. High winds caused trees to fall throughout Erie County Tuesday, leaving many residents without power.

Staff will monitor the conditions on the peninsula and determine when it's safe for the park to reopen.

A section of Route 5 in North East Township, from Orchard Beach Road to Route 89, also was closed Tuesday morning due to high winds and downed trees, according to PennDOT.

Motorists are also advised to avoid a section of East 12th Street after high winds blew off a portion of a building's roof Tuesday morning.

East 12th Street is closed from the Bayfront Connector to East Avenue, according to a repost on the City of Erie's Facebook page.

PennDOT reported other road closures in place in the region Tuesday, including:

  • Route 97 (Route 197) – Closed from Robison Road in Summit Township to Zwilling Road in Waterford Township.

  • Robison Road (Route 4024) – Closed from Cherry Street Extension to Old French Road in Summit Township.

  • Crawford County: Church Road (Route 3005) – Closed from Pecan Drive in South Shenango Township to Leach Road in North Shenango Township.

  • Mercer County: Beatty School Road (Route 4021) – Closed from Mozes Road to Greenville Road, Salem Township.

High wind warning issued for Erie County

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a high wind warning for Erie County for much of Tuesday. Wind gusts could reach 65 mph at times, and stronger yet in Chautauqua County, New York.

Warnings and advisories also are in place in other northwestern Pennsylvania and nearby counties.

Here's what to know.

High wind warning in Erie County

The weather service warning for all of Erie County is scheduled to expire at 10 p.m.

The weather service forecasts southeast winds of 30 mph to 40 mph throughout the day, with gusts as high as 65 mph expected. Damaging winds could down trees and power lines, and widespread power outages are possible. The highest wind gusts are expected north of interstates 90 and 86.

Travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

Morning rain and snow is expected to become all rain after 10 a.m. The high temperature will be near 47 degrees and the nighttime low around 35.

PennDOT precautions on interstates 90, 86 in Pa.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation put Tier 2 vehicle restrictions into effect Tuesday at 10 a.m. on interstates 90 and 86 in Pennsylvania. When Tier 2 guidelines are in place, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways:

  • tractors without trailers;

  • tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers;

  • tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers;

  • tractors towing loaded tandem trailers without chains or Alternate Traction Devices;

  • enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV;

  • passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers;

  • recreational vehicles/motorhomes;

  • school buses, commercial buses and motor coaches, regardless of the availability of trains or ATDs; and

  • motorcycles.

Wind forecast around northwestern Pa., nearby Ohio and NY counties

The National Weather Service also has issued high wind warnings or advisories around the Erie region.

● Crawford County is under a high wind warning Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to the weather service in Cleveland.

Winds will be from the southeast at 20 to 30 mph, gusting up to 50 mph. The highest winds are expected in the highest elevations.

● A wind advisory is in effect in Warren County Tuesday from 10 a.m. through midnight. The weather service in State College expects southeast winds of 20 to 30 mph gusting to 50 mph.

● The weather service in Pittsburgh has put in place a wind advisory until 7 p.m. Tuesday for Mercer, Venango and Forest counties. Southeast winds of 20 to 30 mph will at times gust to 50 mph.

● Chautauqua County, New York, is under a high wind warning until Wednesday at 4 a.m. The weather service in Buffalo forecast shows south winds of 30 to 40 mph gusting to as high as 70 mph.

● The weather service in Cleveland has issued a wind advisory for Ashtabula County, Ohio, from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m. Tuesday. Southeast winds of 20 mph to 30 mph are expected to gust as high as 55 mph. The strongest winds are expected along and north of I-90.

Power outage map: Track outages in Erie County, northwestern Pa.

How to report a power outage

To report an outage to First Energy, call 1-888-544-4877 or visit the outage page on the First Energy Corp. website. Northwestern Rural Electrical Co-Operative Association customers can call 800-352-0014 and choose option one or log into their account.

For the latest weather forecast, visit GoErie.com/weather.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA weather, high winds bring power outages, road closures