Snowstorm Heads for Great Lakes Region Again
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Even more snow could be on the way for places in the Great Lakes region that are still digging out after days of storms caused deadly wrecks, collapsed a barn on top of 100 cows and buried some towns under nearly 6 feet of snow.
While cleanup was continuing Dec. 3 around parts of western New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan — where some places saw just an inch or two of snow while others were hit with several feet — areas in New York were still seeing snowfall and a lake-effect snow warning remained in effect into the evening. Some spots could get another 4 to 8 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
Layers of snow piled on top of an Ohio high school caused its roof to partially collapse while the building was closed over the weekend. School officials near Ashtabula found more damage on Dec. 2, saying it would take weeks to repair and that they were making plans to move classes elsewhere.
More than five feet of snow blanketed the area east of Cleveland along Lake Erie and more was expected later in the week with a winter storm watch in place from the weather service Dec. 4-6.
Our thoughts are with our fellow Pennsylvanians impacted by lake-effect #snow. Our Soldiers are on duty in #Erie County assisting @PEMAHQ with emergency support functions.
People in the areas impacted by the snow should call 211 for non-emergencies and 911 for emergencies. pic.twitter.com/RTlGD9pVz2 — Pennsylvania National Guard (@PANationalGuard) December 2, 2024
Parts of western Pennsylvania could see another 3 to 9 inches from late Dec. 4 through the morning of Dec. 5. Many school districts in the western part of the state remained closed Dec. 3 after several days of lake-effect snow.
Crews were making good progress in keeping roads open, officials said, and most travel restrictions had ended by Dec. 3.
Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard were using Humvees and tactical vehicles to transport health care workers and those needing medical care while also rescuing stranded drivers during the past four days, according to a spokesperson, Maj. Travis Mueller.
Lake effect snow has piled up several feet of accumulation downwind of the Great Lakes in the past few days. Over 5 feet of snow has occurred east of Lake Ontario in the past 4 days. See a map of the latest reports here: https://t.co/FiooAbfPSE pic.twitter.com/0Ot9nGt9s5 — National Weather Service (@NWS) December 3, 2024
The heavy snow in recent days was also blamed for a series of fatal accidents. Three people died Dec. 2 in an Iowa crash involving two vehicles after a driver crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic to pass a snowplow, according to the Iowa State Patrol.
In western Kentucky, two people died in a crash Dec. 2 that blocked Interstate 24 for hours. Winter weather conditions had caused multiple accidents along the highway, officials said.
Contributing to this report were John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pa.; and Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Ky.
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