Forecasters are providing more precise details about Thanksgiving weekend weather in northwestern Pennsylvania as weather conditions become clearer.
These conditions are also getting worse.
The National Weather Service in Cleveland issued a lake effect snow warning early Thursday morning for Erie and Crawford counties, as well as Ashtabula County, Ohio. The warning calls for heavy lake effect snow, up to 18 inches, between early Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.
That forecast replaces a winter storm watch issued early Wednesday for Erie and Crawford. A lake effect snow warning is also in effect in Chautauqua County, New York, where expected snow totals have skyrocketed since Wednesday’s early forecast.
History: Erie weathered a Thanksgiving storm to remember in 1956 with 2 feet of snow
How much snow could fall in Erie and Crawford counties?
The weather forecast calls for 6 to 18 inches of snow during the warning period that begins as Thanksgiving Day turns into Friday.
Forecasters say heavy lake effect snow bands will dump an inch to two inches of snow per hour in some locations. Winds can also reach gusts of up to 35 mph, making for poor visibility and difficult to impossible travel conditions, especially along highways 90, 79 and 86.
More: What is the weather like in Erie County and nearby? Take a tour via webcam
The westerly wind turns to the southwest on Saturday and will bring heavy snow elsewhere – for a while. The weather service expects a return of lake-effect snow on Sunday and into the new week. Stay tuned to GoErie.com for additional advisories, alerts or warnings.
The weather service issues a warning “when a hazardous weather or hydrological event is occurring, threatened or likely. A warning means that weather conditions pose a threat to life or property. People in the path of the storm should wear protective take measures.”
What is the weather forecast for the Erie area for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend?
Expect rain Thursday morning with a chance of showers after 3 p.m. The maximum temperatures are around 44 degrees. The low will drop to around 32 degrees overnight as snow showers begin, possibly mixed with early rain.
On Friday there may sometimes be heavy snow showers, with a maximum of 7 to 10 centimeters. The maximum temperature will be around 37. Another 3 to 5 inches of snow is possible Friday evening, when the low temperature drops to around 24.
Snow showers are expected to continue Saturday, with additional accumulation of several inches to two inches. The high will be around 31 and the low will be around 23.
The chance of snow on Sunday is 80% during the day and 90% at night. The high will be around 36 and the low will be around 29.
How much snow can Chautauqua County get?
The Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a snow warning for Chautauqua County, New York, from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Monday.
Heavy lake effect snow is expected, with the heaviest snow accumulating on the lake at levels of 2 to 3 feet. The largest accumulations are expected in western Chautauqua County.
More: Tornadoes, hurricanes, bomb cyclones: wild Thanksgiving weather through the years
Stay informed about the weather in the Erie area
Return to GoErie.com for updates. Get the latest AccuWeather forecast data and radar images for your zip code at goerie.com/weather. Download the GoErie app for iOS or Android for mobile-friendly forecasts.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Snowy Erie Pa weather forecast after Thanksgiving
