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January 18-20 2024 Winter Storm Event

Weather.gov > Pittsburgh, PA > January 18-20 2024 Winter Storm Event

Overview

During the early morning hours on January 18th 2024, a surface low pressure system began to develop over the southeast CONUS. The surface low further developed as it tracked northeast along the Appalachian range. The deformation snowfall begin to develop just to the south along the northern WV areas and just south of the forecast area. The area of development did eventually move north as it overcame a low level dry area in the profile. However, the frontogenic banding was weaker than forecasted and came in with lower snowfall amounts than forecasted through the day on Thursday. By Thursday evening and Thursday night, the surface low pushed off to the east and off the East Coast. Behind the front, during the early morning hours of January 19th, the lake enhanced upslope began as a post frontal trough assisted in snow shower development. The snow showers produced heavy snowfall at times and quickly made up for the lack of snow during the synoptic snowfall period. This also resulted in a banded snowfall event that will be further discussed during the radar portion. 

 Image
Headlines Issued for this Event

Snow Reports

Public Information Statement

Spotter Reports

National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA

515 PM EST Sat Jan 20 2024

 

The following are unofficial observations taken during the past 47

hours for the storm that has been affecting our region. Appreciation

is extended to highway departments, cooperative observers, Skywarn

spotters and media for these reports. This summary also is available

on our home page at weather.gov/pittsburgh

 

**********STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL (AT LEAST 2.0 INCH)**********

 

LOCATION                           TOTAL               TIME                    DATE       COMMENTS

                                             SNOWFALL      

                                             MEASURED

                                              (inches)

OHIO            
             
...Belmont County...            
Blaine 5 1018 AM 20-Jan Public  
1 N Morristown 4.6 800 AM 20-Jan Public  
             
...Carroll County...            
Leesville 2 1150 AM 19-Jan Public  
             
...Columbiana County...            
East Liverpool 9 1059 AM 20-Jan Public  
Salem 8.8 834 AM 20-Jan Public  
Lisbon 8.5 717 PM 19-Jan Public  
Calcutta 8 700 PM 19-Jan Public  
2 SSW Leetonia 8 600 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
2 SW Salem 7.7 830 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 S Salem 7.3 909 PM 19-Jan Public  
N East Liverpool 7 700 AM 20-Jan Public  
1 SSW La Croft 7 749 AM 20-Jan Public  
1 N Salem 6 600 PM 19-Jan Public  
ENE Hanoverton 5.8 400 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
4 N Wellsville 4.8 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
1 N East Liverpool 4.5 331 PM 19-Jan Public  
Hillcrest 4.2 500 PM 19-Jan Public  
2 N Wellsville 4.2 500 PM 19-Jan Public  
             
...Guernsey County...            
Claysville 4 853 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 E Cambridge 3.8 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Cambridge 3 445 PM 19-Jan Public  
10 NE Cambridge 2.5 612 AM 20-Jan Estimated storm total.
3 SE Cambridge 2.5 1051 AM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
E Quaker City 2.5 115 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
1 N Cambridge 2.4 1201 PM 19-Jan Public  
Byesville 2 915 AM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
             
...Harrison County...            
3 W Scio 3.5 400 AM 20-Jan Public  
             
...Jefferson County...            
Richmond 6 830 AM 20-Jan Public  
1 NW Wintersville 3.4 1030 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
Rayland 2.8 717 AM 20-Jan Public  
             
...Noble County...            
3 W Mount Ephraim 4 1000 AM 20-Jan Public  
             
...Tuscarawas County...            
1 S Dover 4 900 PM 19-Jan Public  
Dover 4 900 PM 19-Jan Public  
2 SW Bolivar 3.2 1115 AM 20-Jan Public  
Roswell 3 900 AM 20-Jan Public  
Uhrichsville 3 915 AM 20-Jan Public  
NW Uhrichsville 2.3 820 AM 20-Jan Public  
             
PENNSYLVANIA            
             
...Allegheny County...            
1 S Fayetteville 10 751 AM 20-Jan Public  
3 S Bethel Park 8.2 700 AM 20-Jan Public  
Jefferson Hills 8.1 100 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 SW Bridgeville 8 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Bethel Park 8 834 AM 20-Jan Public  
1 NW Library Junctio 8 914 AM 20-Jan Public  
Bridgeville 6.5 845 PM 19-Jan Public  
Upper Saint Clair 5.5 752 AM 20-Jan Public  
Oakdale 5 650 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
2 WNW Imperial 4.5 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
1 SE Avalon 4.5 452 PM 19-Jan Public  
11 ESE Pittsburgh 4.5 757 PM 19-Jan Public  
2 SE South Fayette 4.3 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
1 N Imperial 4.2 1159 PM 19-Jan Public  
Dormont 3.8 815 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 W McCandless 3.5 1200 PM 20-Jan Public  
2 S Greenock 3.5 1140 AM 20-Jan Public  
2 SW Penn Hills 3.5 620 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 W West View 3.3 530 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
NE Sharpsburg 3 600 PM 19-Jan Public  
Lawrenceville 3 626 PM 19-Jan NWS Employee
Penn Hills 3 821 AM 19-Jan Public  
Castle Shannon 3 334 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
3 NW Jefferson Hills 3 430 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
1 N Carnot-Moon 2.9 1200 AM 20-Jan Official NWS Obs
4 NW Moon 2.7 200 PM 19-Jan Public  
Upper St. Clair 2.7 130 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
8 ENE Pittsburgh 2.6 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
South Side Flats 2.5 430 PM 19-Jan Public  
N Allegheny Center 2.5 1115 PM 19-Jan Public  
Brackenridge 2.5 147 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 NNW Carnot-Moon 2.3 400 PM 19-Jan NWS Employee
Springdale 2.3 1147 AM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
ENE Harrison Townshi 2.2 550 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
2 SW Pittsburgh 2.2 200 PM 19-Jan Public  
Crafton 2.1 130 PM 19-Jan Public  
Verona 2 811 AM 19-Jan Public  
Clinton 2 1139 AM 19-Jan Public  
Stanton Heights 2 1115 AM 19-Jan Public  
Baldwin 2 138 PM 19-Jan Public  
Mount Lebanon 2 1140 AM 19-Jan Public  
             
...Armstrong County...            
3 NNW Shelocta 2.3 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
             
...Beaver County...            
Ohioville 4 900 AM 20-Jan Public  
Monaca 3.5 501 PM 19-Jan Public  
6 W Beaver 3 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
1 W Blackhawk 3 400 PM 19-Jan Public  
2 N Aliquippa 2.5 200 PM 19-Jan Public  
Aliquippa 2 423 PM 19-Jan Public  
Economy 2 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
             
...Butler County...            
Cranberry 4.5 930 PM 19-Jan Public  
Clinton 4 549 PM 19-Jan NWS Employee
Butler 3.5 400 PM 19-Jan Public  
Fernway 3.5 1237 PM 19-Jan Public  
West Sunbury 3.1 1221 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 SW Meridian 3 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Nixon 2.2 159 PM 19-Jan Public  
2 NE Sarver 2.2 1012 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
2 SW Saxonburg 2 110 PM 19-Jan Public  
Zelienople 2 450 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
1 S Mars 2 1025 AM 19-Jan Public  
             
...Clarion County...            
N Marble 2.8 1000 AM 20-Jan Trained Spotter
             
...Fayette County...            
Farmington 16 655 AM 20-Jan Public  
5 SE Champion 14 527 AM 20-Jan Public  
2 NNW Point Breeze 12 136 PM 20-Jan Amateur Radio
Chalkhill 12 900 AM 20-Jan Public  
4 NW Ohiopyle 11.3 800 AM 20-Jan Trained Spotter
1 SSE Pleasant Hill 10.5 200 PM 20-Jan Public  
Connellsville 8 800 AM 20-Jan Public  
NW Rogerstown 7.6 1020 PM 19-Jan Public  
Indian Head 7.5 1010 PM 19-Jan Public  
Dawson 7.5 853 AM 20-Jan Public  
Uniontown 7.2 833 AM 20-Jan Public  
Dunbar 7 900 PM 19-Jan Public  
NE Connellsville 6.8 1100 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 NW Hopwood 3.1 100 AM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
Point Marion 2.5 1053 AM 19-Jan Co-Op Observer
2 NNE Uniontown 2.5 448 PM 19-Jan CoCoRaHS
Allison 2 845 AM 19-Jan Public  
1 E Belle Vernon 2 1213 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
             
...Forest County...            
9 NE Marienville 7.5 1100 AM 20-Jan Public  
             
...Greene County...            
Waynesburg 7 900 AM 20-Jan Public  
Oak Forest 5 930 AM 20-Jan Public  
Greensboro 3 1020 AM 19-Jan Public  
1 SW Point Marion 2.8 600 AM 20-Jan Co-Op Observer
1 E Waynesburg 2.4 700 AM 20-Jan Co-Op Observer
             
...Indiana County...            
Indiana 4 1234 PM 19-Jan Public  
Shelocta 4 700 AM 20-Jan Public  
             
...Jefferson County...            
Reynoldsville 4 1111 AM 19-Jan Public  
NNE Corsica 2 600 PM 19-Jan CoCoRaHS
             
...Lawrence County...            
1 E New Castle North 3.4 1030 AM 19-Jan Public  
Enon Valley 2.4 600 PM 19-Jan Public  
4 S Volant 2 945 PM 19-Jan Public  
Chewton 2 920 AM 19-Jan Public  
             
...Mercer County...            
Greenville 3.8 415 PM 20-Jan Trained Spotter
             
...Venango County...            
1 E Cooperstown 4.5 830 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
1 NNE Seneca 4 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
NW Reno 3.9 600 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
1 SSW Franklin 2.7 600 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
1 E Franklin 2 800 AM 20-Jan Co-Op Observer
             
...Washington County...            
1 E Cecil 10.5 630 AM 20-Jan Public  
McDonald 10 200 AM 20-Jan Public  
McMurray 8.5 940 PM 19-Jan Public  
Finleyville 8 940 PM 19-Jan Public  
New Eagle 7.5 115 PM 20-Jan Public  
Donora 7 700 AM 19-Jan Public  
Washington 6.5 830 AM 20-Jan Public  
Canonsburg 6.5 730 AM 20-Jan Public  
Venetia 6.2 930 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
SE Canonsburg 6 700 AM 20-Jan Public  
Gastonville 6 235 PM 20-Jan Public  
California 5.5 1128 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
Charleroi 5.5 1000 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
3 N Hickory 5.4 930 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
Cecil 5 512 PM 19-Jan Public  
Bower Hill 4.7 500 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
1 WNW Venetia 4.5 830 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Bulger 4.5 659 PM 19-Jan Public  
Granville 4 113 PM 20-Jan Public  
Wylandville 4 500 AM 20-Jan Public  
SSE Dunlevy 3.8 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
5 E Avella 3.2 735 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
4 NW Canonsburg 3.1 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Stockdale 2.5 116 PM 19-Jan Public  
             
...Westmoreland County.. .          
North Belle Vernon 8 500 PM 20-Jan Public  
Monessen 6 830 PM 19-Jan Public  
West Newton 6 835 AM 20-Jan Public  
Pricedale 6 900 PM 19-Jan Public  
3 WSW Smithton 5.3 633 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
3 ESE Smithton 4 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Youngwood 3.5 1110 AM 20-Jan Public  
Trafford 3.5 754 PM 19-Jan Public  
3 S Latrobe 3 1215 PM 19-Jan Public  
New Stanton 3 337 PM 19-Jan Public  
5 NW New Stanton 3 100 AM 19-Jan Public  
Murrysville 2.5 238 PM 19-Jan Public  
Irwin 2.4 541 PM 19-Jan Public  
Lower Burrell 2.4 245 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
1 SW New Alexandria 2.3 700 PM 19-Jan Public  
Manor 2.2 412 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 WSW Monessen 2 853 AM 19-Jan Snowfall since 1 AM
1 SW New Stanton 2 745 AM 20-Jan Co-Op Observer
1 S Irwin 2 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Ligonier 2 943 AM 19-Jan Utility Company
             
WEST VIRGINIA            
             
...Brooke County...            
5 E Wellsburg 5.2 830 AM 20-Jan Public  
Colliers 4.5 400 PM 19-Jan Public  
             
...Hancock County...            
3 SW Chester 5.1 530 PM 19-Jan Public  
New Manchester 3.5 1030 PM 19-Jan Public  
NW Marland Heights 2.8 1112 AM 19-Jan Public  
Weirton 2.5 1000 AM 19-Jan Public  
             
...Marion County...            
2 NNE Grant Town 6 900 AM 20-Jan Public  
3 E Colfax 5.3 900 AM 20-Jan Public  
Farmington 5 947 AM 19-Jan Public  
Fairmont 4.5 912 AM 20-Jan Public  
1 SE Katy 4 350 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
2 N Rivesville 4 600 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
3 ENE Fairmont 3.5 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Meadowdale 3 800 PM 19-Jan Public  
1 SSE Fairmont 2.5 1200 AM 20-Jan Co-Op Observer
             
...Marshall County...            
Dallas 7 930 AM 20-Jan Public  
Glendale 3 745 PM 19-Jan Amateur Radio
4 SSW Moundsville 3 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
             
...Monongalia County...            
Woodburn 6 330 PM 20-Jan Amateur Radio
2 NNE New Hill 5.5 234 PM 20-Jan Public  
Suncrest 5 843 AM 20-Jan Amateur Radio
8 SE Morgantown 4.5 745 PM 19-Jan Amateur Radio
Morgantown 4.5 842 AM 20-Jan Storm total snow.
Granville 4 745 PM 19-Jan Amateur Radio
5 E Morgantown 3.8 745 PM 19-Jan Amateur Radio
6 S Morgantown 3.5 745 PM 19-Jan Amateur Radio
6 SW Morgantown 3.5 809 AM 20-Jan Trained Spotter
2 SE Morgantown 3 745 PM 19-Jan Amateur Radio
Star City 2.8 959 AM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
5 S Morgantown 2.8 1043 AM 19-Jan Amateur Radio
2 E Morgantown 2 826 AM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
             
...Ohio County...            
Triadelphia 3.2 207 PM 19-Jan Broadcast Media
4 NNE Valley Grove 3 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Wheeling 2.5 423 PM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
             
...Preston County...            
1 NW Pisgah 17 848 AM 20-Jan Public  
Laurel Run 16.5 900 AM 20-Jan Public  
Amblersburg 16 152 PM 20-Jan Still snowing
Tunnelton 16 1030 AM 20-Jan Public  
Masontown 14 505 PM 20-Jan Still snowing
Rodemer 14 509 AM 20-Jan Dept of Highways
Cuzzart 12 842 AM 20-Jan Amateur Radio
Reedsville 12 841 AM 20-Jan Amateur Radio
5 NNE Terra Alta 11.5 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
E Terra Alta 11.2 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
3 S Bruceton Mills 11.2 700 AM 20-Jan Public  
Mount Vernon 10 205 PM 19-Jan Public  
Albright 9 1100 AM 20-Jan Public  
1 SSE Albright 8 459 AM 20-Jan Dept of Highways
Bruceton Mills 8 759 PM 19-Jan Public  
7 N Thomas 7 700 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
Independence 6.5 436 PM 19-Jan Public  
Terra Alta 4 1140 AM 19-Jan Trained Spotter
             
...Tucker County...            
1 SSW Cortland 23.5 1051 AM 20-Jan Public  
7 SSE Canaan Hgts 19 850 AM 20-Jan Storm Total.
Parsons 14 810 AM 20-Jan Emergency Mngr
Hambleton 14 745 PM 19-Jan Public  
3 S Canaan Hgts 13.6 900 AM 20-Jan Co-Op Observer
7 S Davis 12 730 AM 20-Jan Storm Total.
Davis 9.5 700 AM 20-Jan Co-Op Observer
             
...Wetzel County...            
Folsom 9 913 AM 20-Jan Public  
7 E New Martinsville 5.8 800 AM 20-Jan CoCoRaHS
2 N Glover Gap 5 650 AM 20-Jan Co-Op Observer

Snowfall Total Map

Snowfall Totals in this map include the synoptic snowfall on Thursday and also the upslope snow shower portion on Friday and Saturday.

Image
Snowfall Total Map

Photos

Photo Photo Photo Photo
Snow Covered Roads on 376
Credit: PA 511		 Snow Covered Roads on I-79
Credit: PA 511		 Cooper's Rock WV
Credit: Susan Boyer Teeple		 Canaan Valley WV
Credit: SBeth Schwartz

Radar

During the upslope portion of the event, a strong narrow band of heavy snow showers formed right along the southwest border of Allegheny and Washington Counties and persisted there from 20Z on the 19th through 03Z on the 20th. This band, at it's max strength, was producing up to 2 inches per hour snowfall rates at times. It resulted in some snowfall amounts in PA counties such as Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, and Westmoreland well above expected totals. Columbiana County in Ohio also received heavy snowfall from this band. The surface mesoscale analysis at 22Z and 23Z indicate that the surface winds show that indeed there was a double fetch in place off both Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Just like a situation that you would see in Buffalo, NY, this resulted in heavy snowfall in one area under the band, but 10 miles to the northeast or southwest, little to no snowfall.   

Radar Image Radar Image Radar Image
Caption SPC SFC Wind and MSLP 1/19/24 23Z SPC SFC Wind and MSLP 1/19/24 22Z

Environment/Surface Maps/Upper Air Maps

Surface Maps from WPC.

Environment Environment Environment
1/18/24 12Z SFC 1/18/24 18Z SFC 1/19/24 00Z SFC

 

Environment Environment Environment
1/19/24 06Z SFC 1/19/24 12Z SFC 1/19/24 18Z SFC


Upper Air Maps from SPC.

1/18/24 12Z Upper Air Maps

Environment Environment Environment
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Environment Environment Environment
700MB 850MB 925MB

1/19/24 00Z Upper Air Maps

Environment Environment Environment
250MB 300MB 500MB
Environment Environment Environment
700MB 850MB 925MB

1/19/24 12Z Upper Air Maps

Environment Environment Environment
250MB 300MB 500MB
Environment Environment Environment
700MB 850MB 925MB

1/20/24 00Z Upper Air Maps

Environment Environment Environment
250MB 300MB 500MB
Environment Environment Environment
700MB 850MB 925MB

Skew-T's from PIT.

Environment Environment
Pittsburgh 1/18/24 12Z Sounding  Pittsburgh 1/19/24 00Z Sounding

 

Environment Environment
Pittsburgh 1/19/24 12Z Sounding Pittsburgh 1/20/24 00Z Sounding
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