Lake Erie could ice over entirely, affecting snows

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — The National Weather Service says the cold weather might actually mean less snow for parts of northwestern Pennsylvania the rest of the winter.

Why? Because Lake Erie is largely frozen over and if it freezes entirely much of the fuel for lake-effect snow storms over Erie and other areas near the lake would vanish.

Meteorologist Karen Oudeman says that the moisture source for lake-effect snows would be blocked by the ice.

If the lake ices over entirely in the next week or so, it could cause another problem, however: a delay in the Erie area’s shipping industry.