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| Early Season Snow Possible Oct 15th-16th, 2009 |
A very early-season snowfall is possible across the region from late Thursday into Friday night. The main threat is to the higher-elevations of Central PA.
Synoptic Situation:
A low pressure area will move from the Mississippi Valley to the Carolina Coast by Friday morning. This will create a deep easterly flow off the Atlantic Ocean right into Central PA. The deep moisture will flow over an unseasonably cold airmass in place already. This combination should result in a very cold rain at the least, and the ridges will probably see this rain turn to a very heavy and wet snowfall. While accumulation numbers may not be significant, the high water-content of the snow will weigh down trees, and could cause power outages and travel problems.
The forecast is still rather uncertain as of Wednesday morning (Oct 14th, 2009), but the situation bears close attention, especially if you have travel plans for Central PA late this week and this weekend.
Local Climate Focal Point, John LaCorte, put together this historical perspective on early-season snowfalls:
EARLY SEASON ACCUMULATING SNOWS ARE VERY UNUSUAL BUT NOT UNHEARD
OF IN PENNSYLVANIA. SOME EARLIEST FIRST DATES OF MEASURABLE SNOW
ARE PROVIDED BELOW.
WILLIAMSPORT OCT 16 1977 1.0"
HARRISBURG OCT 19 1972 1.2"
STATE COLLEGE OCT 18 1901 0.1"
WELLSBORO OCT 17 1977 7.5"
ALTOONA OCT 12 1988 0.2" * was earlier reported as October 13th, 1957 (0.3")
JOHNSTOWN OCT 10 1925 0.2"
YORK OCT 19 1972 1.5"
Read the most recent Hazardous Weather Outlook. Monitor changes in the threats visually to our region on our Hazardous Weather Monitor Page.
As this potential event nears, you can view the gridded forecast of expected snowfall.
Also see the following graphics: |
| NWS HPC Forecast of Surface Features and Precipitation on Thursday Evening (Oct 15th) |
| NWS HPC Areas of Potential Heavy Snowfall (see highlighted area over Central PA). |
2009 Weather Features:
- Early (Earliest) Snow - October 15-16, 2009
- Heavy-Wet Snow Possible Thursday and Friday
- September 2009 Climate Summary
- Local Observer wins Thomas Jefferson Award
- August 2009 Climate Summary for Harrisburg and Williamsport
- Severe Weather Event - August 20, 2009
- Severe Weather of 9 August 2009
- Heavy Rains and Flooding - July 23, 2009
- Severe Weather of Sat July 11th
- Severe Weather Events - June 25&26, 2009
- Early (Earliest) Snow - October 15-16, 2009
- Heavy-Wet Snow Possible Thursday and Friday
- September 2009 Climate Summary
- Local Observer wins Thomas Jefferson Award
- August 2009 Climate Summary for Harrisburg and Williamsport
- Severe Weather Event - August 20, 2009
- Severe Weather Event - June 20, 2009
- Severe Weather Event - June 9, 2009
- Severe Weather Event - May 16, 2009
- Wet pattern of early May
- Heat Wave sets Record Highs
- Unusually warm weather in store.
- York County Straight Line Wind Damage Sunday afternoon Mar 29, 2009
- Tornado Damage in Lancaster County 29 March 2009
- Coastal Low and Deep Snow SE, March 1st-2nd, 2009
- Strong Winds, Feb 11th-12th, 2009
- Local Heavy Snow in Lancaster, PA Feb 3rd-4th, 2009
- Snow and Ice Storm, Jan 27-28th
- Low Temperatures Saturday 17 Jan
- State College Represents NWS at the PA Farm Show
- Heavy Snow in Central PA, Jan 10th
- Ice Storm then Heavy Rain in the South, Jan 6th-8th
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