See snow totals in Erie region, ring in 2023 with showers, warmer temperatures
Winter Storm Elliott has come and gone in Erie County, blanketing the region with snow.
Last Friday, during the peak of the storm, temperatures dropped into the teens as northwestern Pennsylvania experienced wind gusts up to 43 mph that morning.
Winter storm recap:Here is the latest on Winter Storm Elliott as it reaches Erie
Throughout the day, travel by plane, bus and train had been delayed and/or cancelled by the storm. Wind gusts reached nearly 50 mph by Friday afternoon at the Erie International Airport, and increased up to 60 mph by the evening. Wind chill temperatures also remained around minus-25 through Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service office in Cleveland.
About 2,800 Penelec customers were without electrical service during the winter storm. The outages were scattered across Erie County, though most of the larger ones — between 101 and 500 customers — were in the western part of the county.
Here are snow totals in the Erie region in the past 33 hours, according to the NWS office in Cleveland as of Tuesday afternoon:
North East: 13.1 inches
Meadville: 6 inches
Erie: 3.8 inches
Edinboro: 4.5 inches
Winter storm leaves nearly 30 dead in Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, New York experienced a historic winter storm. The region was covered in as much as 43 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service office in Buffalo.
Due to the severe weather conditions, at least 27 people in Erie County, New York died. Erie County (New York) Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted that 14 people in the county had died of exposure, three people were found in their vehicles, four had no heat, three were from shoveling/(snow) blowing cardiac events and three people passed away after EMS services were delayed.
Winter storm:Buffalo, NY, preps for more snow in worst blizzard in 4 decades
Very sadly, the @ECDOH Medical Examiner has confirmed another 2 deaths from the Blizzard. Total deaths are now 27. Of these:
- 3 were from an EMS Delay;
- 14 were found outside;
- 3 were from shoveling/blowing cardiac events;
- 4 were from no heat; &
- 3 were in a vehicle. pic.twitter.com/Om996bJMoo— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) December 26, 2022
While warmer temperatures are forecasted for later in the week, the area was expected to receive 6 to 12 inches more of heavy, lake-effect snow through Tuesday, according to the NWS office in Buffalo.
Temperatures to warm up by New Year's Day
Expect last week's winter snow to melt into slush by the end of the week in Erie County.
The NWS office in Cleveland is predicting temperatures will warm up significantly in the days leading up to the new year.
New Year's Eve 2022:Say hello to 2023 at these Erie and nearby locations
On Thursday, it is forecast to be partly sunny with a high around 46 degrees. There could be wind gusts as high as 31 mph and a slight chance of showers after 1 a.m. Thursday evening will be cloudy, with a low around 42, according to the National Weather Service office in Cleveland.
Expect more showers on Friday and a high around 51 and a low around 41. On New Year's Eve, showers will continue with a high around 49. Expect to ring in the new year with rain and a low of 40. By New Year's Day, the high will stay around 48 with a chance of more rain at 70%.
For the latest forecast, weather alerts and radar images for the Erie area, visit goerie.com/weather.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Temperatures to warm up in Erie County, showers ahead of new year
