Pittsburgh/Western PA WINTER ‘25/‘26

[TheClimateChanger]

SNOW SQUALL WARNING
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
1035 PM EST WED DEC 31 2025

PAC019-031-073-085-121-010415-
/O.CON.KPBZ.SQ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260101T0415Z/
1035 PM EST WED DEC 31 2025
Butler County-Clarion County-Lawrence County-Mercer County-Venango
County-

...SNOW SQUALL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 PM EST FOR
SOUTHERN MERCER, SOUTHERN VENANGO, NORTHERN BUTLER, WEST CENTRAL
CLARION AND NORTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES...

At 1035 PM EST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line from
near Oil City to near Farrell, or along a line from near Oil City to
near Sharon, moving south at 15 mph. Visbility dropped to one-quarter
mile at the airport in Franklin.

HAZARD...Intense bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds leading to
blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility. Wind gusts up
to 35 mph.

SOURCE...Doppler radar and airport visibility sensors.

IMPACT...Travel will become difficult and potentially dangerous
within minutes.

Locations impacted include...
Hermitage, Sharon, Oil City, Grove City, Franklin, Sharpsville,
Knox, Sugarcreek, Farrell, Slippery Rock, New Wilmington, Oakwood,
New Castle Northwest, Mercer, Pulaski, Hasson Heights, Stoneboro,
Seneca, New Bedford and Harrisville.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 0 and 56.
Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 109 and 128.
Interstate 376 between mile markers 0 and 12.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow Down! Rapid changes in visibility and road conditions are
expected with this dangerous snow squall. Be alert for sudden
whiteout conditions.

LAT...LON 4128 8052 4146 7962 4119 7949 4116 7968
          4117 7969 4115 7969 4100 8052 4128 8052

SNOW SQUALL...OBSERVED

$$

[TheClimateChanger]

 

[TheClimateChanger]

 

[Mailman]

Thundersnow heading towards New Castle!

[Rd9108]

Ill probably be sleeping by then. I was hoping it was gonna be here sooner.

[north pgh]

There has been some lightning observed in the squall line. Would love to to have some when it gets here. 

[MikeB_01]

Looks like the returns are decent behind the initial squall. Could easily pick up 1-2” in a short time.


.

[TheClimateChanger]

Mesoscale discussion #1 of 2026:

 

[colonel717]

16 minutes ago, MikeB_01 said:

Looks like the returns are decent behind the initial squall. Could easily pick up 1-2” in a short time.


.

Only have 2.3 so far. I just shoveled so I can tell what the squall brings 

[colonel717]

28 minutes ago, Rd9108 said:

Ill probably be sleeping by then. I was hoping it was gonna be here sooner.

I'll be up and will be going out when it comes through. 

[Mailman]

Feel honored to be in the year's first mesoscale discussion.

[Rd9108]

Looks like the heaviest part of the squall will be here before 1230 so that works. I gotta get up for work early.

[TimB]

It’s official. First December on record that had 4 days with at least 3.5” of snow.

[blackngoldrules]

Squall is moving through the county now. Any thunder at all?

[colonel717]

3 minutes ago, blackngoldrules said:

Squall is moving through the county now. Any thunder at all?


 

All I hear are fireworks...haven't seen any reports of thunder. 

[RitualOfTheTrout]

Just had thundersnow in the squall! Big flash of lightning! (Im outside shoveling)

[colonel717]

10 minutes ago, RitualOfTheTrout said:

Just had thundersnow in the squall! Big flash of lightning! (Im outside shoveling)

How much do you think you got from the squall

[blackngoldrules]

All I hear are fireworks...haven't seen any reports of thunder. 

On our doorstep now......

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

[RitualOfTheTrout]

7 minutes ago, colonel717 said:

How much do you think you got from the squall

Hard to say, its still ripping behind the main line. Id say .5 -.75 in the heart of it. It started out more graupel like, so I knew there was some convective element and a shot at thunder / lightening coupled with the 35dbz returns.

I was pushing 4 inches before it hit, will probably get close to 5 for the event.

[MikeB_01]

Ripping


.

[RitualOfTheTrout]

Looks like one more moderate burst before the dry air starts to shut off the heavier snow.

Its ripping here again. 

Gotta go back outside!

[colonel717]

That was awesome to be out in. I measured 3.5 so the squall gave me over an inch. Still ripping. 

[RitualOfTheTrout]

4 minutes ago, colonel717 said:

That was awesome to be out in. I measured 3.5 so the squall gave me over an inch. Still ripping. 

Wait til that second batch gets to you. Heavy snow, huge dendrites, its a thing of beauty. Phone camera can't do it justice.

[dj3]

How common is thunder snow in our area? First time in my life I witnessed it happen was tonight.

[RitualOfTheTrout]

15 minutes ago, dj3 said:

How common is thunder snow in our area? First time in my life I witnessed it happen was tonight.

Most of my memories are from situations like this, usually in a squall line or strong arctic front. 

Honestly its probably not super rare for our region as a whole in this type of setup. Now getting it as part of a noreaster I can't recall the last time that happened.

If I hadn't been outside I would have probably missed it.

I'm not sure if there are any official statistics on it or not.

[Mailman]

Just came thru here.  Was rippin' pretty good.  No flashes, no rumbles, though.  Guess I will go to sleep.

[Burghblizz]

Mega Squall hit here exactly at midnight.
 

Thought for a second we got some thunder, but it was just someone with fireworks. Still snowed pretty heavily for awhile after it. I got a little shafted on the LES two days ago, but looks like around 5” out of this event. 

[ChalkHillSnowNut]

Forecasted 6-9” got about 4.5”…..still a nice view on new year morning!

[PghPirates27]

Looks like I got 5" - 6" but hard to tell with the wind blowing everything around.

[colonel717]

It was hard to come up with a final total with the wind. I am going with 3.75. I was out filming with my phone and it crashed after about 10 minutes so I don't have the video from the best part. Got some pics from towards the end.