Discover the Snowiest Place in Pennsylvania

Written by Megan Martin
Updated: August 27, 2023
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When you think about the weather in Pennsylvania, your mind probably goes to snow. After all, the Keystone State is known for its humid continental climate and for receiving over 100 inches of snow in some areas. However, which areas? This complete guide will walk you through the snowiest place in Pennsylvania. 

Ready to learn more? Keep reading below!

Snowiest Place in Pennsylvania

A state known for receiving around 100 inches of snow each year can be difficult to imagine. It can even be more difficult to think about the fact that just a single town can receive that much in the span of a snow season.

However, while it may be hard to wrap your head around, it’s true! In fact, to see the snowiest place in Pennsylvania, you don’t need to look any further than Erie, Pennsylvania.

Erie can average receive as much as 101.2 inches of snow per season. It’s not even a close match, either. The second snowiest place in Pennsylvania, Warren, only receives around 69 inches. 

Erie is the snowiest place in Pennsylvania.

©Carrie’s Camera/Shutterstock.com

About Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie is the fifth largest city in all of Pennsylvania, with a population of 93,928 people as of 2021. Located in the county of the same name, Erie sits on the southern shore of Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes of North America and one of the 11th largest lakes in the entire world. Erie sits almost directly in the middle of Buffalo, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio. 

Thanks to Erie’s position on the lake, the weather is actually fairly moderate. The summers here can be warm and humid, but winters are typically mild. Despite this mild climate, however, it’s still the snowiest place in Pennsylvania!

History

Before Erie was Erie, and before the United States even existed, Erie was inhabited by indigenous people for several thousand years. Some studies show that native presences in these areas can be traced as far back as 8000 BCE!

The Erie people were an Iroquoian group living in both Erie and the surrounding areas, and it’s this nation for which Erie the city is named. The nation and its people were declared extinct after a prolonged war with neighboring nations. Surviving members are said to have been absorbed into other nations, such as the Seneca. 

European settlers didn’t arrive in the Erie area until the French constructed Fort Presque Isle around 1753. The term “presque isle” comes from the Latin words meaning “almost an island,” which refers to the peninsula where the fort was located, near modern-day Erie. 

In the mid-19th century, Erie was a location of significance due to its economy and manufacturing. Thanks to its location, shipbuilding, fishing, and railroad construction were all major points in the economy and early days of Erie.

Erie won the All-America City Award in 1972. This is an award the National Civic League gave to recognize the inclusive work of communities. Not only did it win this year, but it was a finalist in 1961, 1994, 1995, and 2009. 

Pennsylvania Winter

In 2017, between December 24 and 25, Erie received 53 inches of snow, breaking the record for the largest two-day snowfall in Pennsylvania.

©Andrew Hearn/Shutterstock.com

Climate in Erie

Believe it or not, Erie can actually be difficult to classify when it comes to climate. Two main climates are often assigned to Erie: hot-summer humid continental climate and humid subtropical climate. Although these may seem vastly different, they’re actually quite similar, which is why it can be difficult to tell what exactly Erie is. 

Not only is Erie the snowiest place in Pennsylvania, but The Daily Beast’s list of snowiest places in the United States has it as third! Some studies show that the average snowfall in Erie is around 78.7 inches, although it routinely tips closer to 100 inches each year. 

On the Christmas of 2017, in only the time between December 24 and 25, Erie received 53 inches of snow. This allowed Erie to break the record for the largest two-day snowfall anywhere in Pennsylvania.

In the 2000 to 2001 season, Erie received around 149 inches of snow. Although this may seem like a record-breaking amount, this town has actually managed to beat it! In fact, in the 2017 to 2018 season, the snowiest place in Pennsylvania received 198.5 inches of snow. That’s almost as tall as a giraffe!

Wildlife in Erie

There are more than 25,000 species of animals and plants to be found in Pennsylvania. Erie’s position on the Great Lakes allows many of these unique and interesting animals to be found nearby. 

In Pennsylvania, you can find everything from timber rattlesnakes to white-tailed deer to the well-known red-tailed hawk. Pennsylvania is also home to Lady’s-slippers or slipper orchids. When you think about orchids, you probably don’t think about them having a home in the United States, especially in one of the snowiest states. However, slipper orchids are one of the different species of orchids native to North America, and they can be found right in Pennsylvania. 

White-tailed deer reaching to eat off tree branch

You can find the white-tailed deer in Erie.

©iStock.com/steverts

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/corradobarattaphotos


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About the Author

Megan is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is birds, felines, and sharks. She has been researching and writing about animals for four years, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in biology and professional and technical writing from Wingate University, which she earned in 2022. A resident of North Carolina, Megan is an avid birdwatcher that enjoys spending time with her cats and exploring local zoological parks with her husband.

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