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While we will not see a large-scale storm system impacting the region this Thanksgiving holiday, an incoming cold air mass will bring trouble. With warm Lake Erie lake temperatures, the lake effect snow machine will be turned on right in time for the holiday. Periods of heavy, accumulating snowfall are expected throughout the day on Thursday and Friday, leading to very treacherous travel conditions. Read below for all of the details!
READ THE SECOND CALL FROM YESTERDAY EVENING HERE: https://paweatherplus.com/winter-storm-on-thanksgiving-heavy-snowfall/
TIMING IT OUT:
The snow will begin across northwestern Pennsylvania late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Snow will continue throughout the day, with the worst impacts beginning after sunset and through Friday morning. This is when we will lose the sunlight, and temperatures will drop into the 20s and low-30s. Treacherous travel will continue through Friday morning. Snow showers, at times heavy, will continue throughout the remainder of the day on Friday. The showers will begin to taper off by late Friday into very early Saturday morning.
WINTER WEATHER ALERTS:
As of Wednesday afternoon, Lake Effect Warnings have been issued for Crawford, McKean, Warren, and Erie Counties. These alert counties will see the most significant impacts with treacherous road travel. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for Cameron, Elk, Forest, Mercer, Potter, and Venango counties, where there will be accumulating snowfall that leads to also tricky travel conditions. Keep in mind, depending on when you view this post, watches may have expanded and/or other alerts may have been posted. Check with weather.gov for your latest alert information.
HIGHWAY RESTRICTIONS:
This list was updated at 4:15 PM on 11/26/2025. For a more updated list, check social media updates or head to www.511pa.com.
TIER 1:
Under Tier 1 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways: tractors without trailers; tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed, open, or tank trailers; tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers; unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that qualify as commercial motor vehicles; passenger vehicles such as cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks that are towing trailers; recreational vehicles and motorhomes; school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches; and motorcycles.
- I-86 between I-90 and NY Line.
- I-90 between OH Line and NY Line.
FINAL CALL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AND IMPACTS
HEAVIEST LAKE EFFECT IMPACTS:
HEAVY SNOW AND WIND ALERT: Areas A – D will see wind gusts of 35 – 45 mph throughout the snow event. This will allow for blowing snow, further reducing visibility. Travel is highly unrecommended once conditions begin to worsen throughout the day on Thursday.
AREA A: Greatest area of confidence for 16 to 22 inches. Snowfall rates will exceed 1-2″/hr in the heaviest bands. Expect treacherous travel Thursday afternoon through Friday late morning with snow-covered roadways and very limited visibility with heavy snowfall. This includes the higher terrain of Erie, Warren and Crawford Counties. I would avoid travel in this area once conditions begin to worsen.
AREA B: Heavy lake effect snow expected. 12 to 16 inches expected with isolated higher amounts. Snowfall rates will exceed 1-2″/hr in the heaviest bands. Expect treacherous travel Thursday afternoon through Friday late morning with snow-covered roadways and very limited visibility with heavy snowfall. I would avoid travel in this area once conditions begin to worsen.
AREA C: Heavy lake effect snow expected. 8 to 12 inches of snow expected with isolated higher amounts. Snowfall rates will exceed 1-2″/hr in the heaviest bands. Expect treacherous travel Thursday afternoon through Friday late morning with snow-covered roadways and very limited visibility with heavy snowfall. Expect snow-covered roadways, especially Thursday evening through early Friday morning. I would avoid travel in this area once conditions begin to worsen.
AREA D: Outer bands of the heaviest lake effect snowfall. 5 to 8 inches of snow expected with isolated higher amounts. Snowfall rates may exceed 1″/hr at spotty times. Expect snow-covered roadways, especially Thursday evening through early Friday morning.
MINIMAL TO MODERATE IMPACTS:
AREA E: Far outer bands of the heaviest lake effect snowfall with snow showers and squalls. A general 3 to 5 inches of snow is possible with localized higher amounts. Expect snow-covered roadways in any heavier snow shower or snow squall Thursday evening through early Friday morning.
AREA F: Lake effect snow showers and snow squalls. A general 1 to 3 inches of snow is possible. Expect snow-covered roadways in any heavier snow shower or snow squall Thursday evening through early Friday morning.
AREA G: Areas of snow showers expected late Thursday night, throughout Friday morning and early afternoon. Minimal accumulations of a dusting expected with an isolated half inch in any heavier snow shower or squall. Just be mindful of possible slick spots on roadways, especially in those areas that may see a steadier snow shower.
With the Thanksgiving holiday, it is a good idea to remain cautious of this snowfall event. Keep in mind, with lake effect winter storms, travel conditions may go from “great” to “impossible” in as little as 10 – 15 minutes as lake bands pivot with changing wind directions. It is likely post sunset on Thursday through Friday morning that we will see snow-covered roadways with very low visibility in Area A & B. If you are able to travel on Wednesday and/or Saturday, I would highly recommend in these areas. In the other areas, just practice caution and judge it the day of with how conditions may be.
I will provide more updates over the next 24 hours! Stay tuned and stay safe!
-Meteorologist Denys K.
