Erie County snow storm impacts: What’s closed still, how much snow has fallen

The snow emergency that has closed schools, businesses and government buildings throughout Erie County as flakes continue to fall on feet already on the ground hasn’t slowed the workload for area first responders.

Crews were out braving the elements Monday morning responding to a number of calls. They included a reported fire at the Millcreek Mall Pavilion, which was reported at 6:03 a.m., according to Erie County 911; a water break at Old Zuck Road and West Grandview Boulevard, according to Erie Water Works; and ongoing reports of vehicles stuck and/or abandoned on streets in Erie, according to the Erie Bureau of Police.

The Erie Bureau of Fire wasn’t called out to any fires or emergency medical calls as of 7:45 a.m. Monday, but continue to deal with terrible roads, abandoned cars and fire trucks getting stuck, Deputy Chief John Herrmann said.

Additional resources including the Pennsylvania National Guard have been called in to assist in dealing with the heavy and ongoing snowfall that has buried Erie County since Friday.

The biggest issue for emergency responders over the weekend was making roads accessible, Brian Mesaros, Erie County’s emergency management coordinator, said Monday morning. Plow crews are continuing to clear those roads, with most opened Monday morning, he said.

Emergency management officials are starting to experience issues related to snow loads on buildings, Mesaros said, particularly on trailers and small structures. There were two reported roof collapses at a trailer park in North East Township on Sunday night, and a couple of roof collapses were reported in the county on Monday morning, he said.

Mesaros cautioned people not to put themselves in danger by trying to clear their roofs on their own. There are contractors out there that do the work, although they might be busy, he said.

How much snow has fallen?

As of Sunday night, snow spotters with the National Weather Service in Cleveland measured 57.5 inches of snow in Girard, 50.2 inches of snow in North East, between 45.2 and 48 inches in Harborcreek Township and 42.5 inches near Erie from the storm, according to the latest data posted on the NWS Cleveland website.

And more snow is on the way, as a lake effect snow warning remains in place for Erie, Crawford and counties to the east and west through Tuesday night. Forecasters are predicting additional accumulations of eight to 15 inches for much of Erie County, with up to 20 inches possible in the far northeastern corner of the county, according to information on the NWS Cleveland website.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Saturday signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for Erie County to make additional resources including the National Guard available to support response efforts.

Shapiro reported in a news release announcing the declaration that, between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, the Pennsylvania State Police responded to nearly 200 incidents.

Vehicle restrictions

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced Monday morning that Tier 2 vehicle restrictions remain in place along Interstate 90 from the Ohio to the New York state lines, on Interstate 86 from I-90 to the New York state line, and along I-79 from the Meadville exit to the highway’s end in Erie County.

Under the restrictions, vehicles including tractors without trailers, tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded trailers, passenger vehicles towing trailers, recreational vehicles and school buses are not permitted on those roadways.

Speed limits are reduced to 45 mph on I-90 from I-79 east to the New York state line and on I-86 from I-90 to the New York state line.

Return to GoErie.com for updates.

(This story was updated to add new information.)