The Biggest Christmas Snowstorm to Ever Hit Pennsylvania Was a Holiday Miracle

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you might be thinking a few inches will make the holiday feel more festive—but you’re likely not dreaming about 62.9 inches of snow! Pennsylvania experienced this record-breaking snowfall in Christmas 2017. In particular, Erie, Pennsylvania found itself the focal point of a winter wonderland. Let’s explore the biggest Christmas snowstorm to ever hit Pennsylvania that ended up being a holiday miracle.

Unprecedented Christmas Snowstorm

As Pennsylvanians were preparing for the holiday, snow continued to accumulate leading up to Christmas Day. December 24-27, 2017, brought in a synoptic system from the Upper Ohio Valley, which combined with the lake effect snow. Lake-effect snow is a weather event where the cold air combines with lake water and creates a band of strong storms. The National Weather Service predicted another 5 to 10 inches of snow. In actuality, 34 inches of snow fell on Christmas Day alone.

Erie, located on the shores of Pennsylvania’s side of Lake Erie, experienced the most snowfall. When the snowfall eventually ended, Erie was buried under 62.9 inches of snow. This exceptional amount of snow beat the record 44 inches that fell in March 1958.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

As one of the biggest Christmas snowstorms in Pennsylvania history, Erie’s 2017 storm will forever be remembered. One day alone utterly surpassed previous snowfall records. A Snow Emergency was declared as a result of the immense snowfall. 

Of course, the excessive snowfall made for dangerous travel, but it also made for a beautiful snowy Christmas. While residents of Erie, Pennsylvania might not have anticipated such a massive amount of snowfall, this biggest Christmas snowstorm was definitely a holiday miracle for Pennsylvania.