Erie, PA: how close to the lake to avoid snow (hotel, houseboats)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

It also doesn't really matter who said that, but it was RockLobster, not me.

How'd that happen? I guess I also quoted your last post and it all got messed up in my edit. Thanks for catching it.

[psychomantis]

Originally Posted by MeinGlanzendMotorrad

You don't need snow tires. Just get a good set of all-season tires that have a good rating in snow and you'll be just fine.

Where snow tires really shine is driving on ice, not only from tread pattern but also bc they are made of a softer compound rubber that is designed to have more grip in freezing temperatures. All seasons are a harder compound and do not grip nearly as well in temps below freezing.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by namdeguerre

I am a newbie here, just going to start a job at GE in Erie. Buddy in college told me that if you are on the lake, you get no snow till January because of the warmth of the lake.

I visited here a couple of times and have looked at places in Millcreek and Summit - between I-90 and the 38th st, both west and east of I79.

Do I have to be closer to the lake to avoid snow?

Thanks

I lived in Erie for 36 years, here's the deal: as long as the lake is not frozen, most of western PA, especially NW PA, is open to being blasted by "lake effect" snow. As long as the winds are out of the northwest, the snow is carried to Interstated 90 and points south. If the winds, by chance, are out of the west, then the City of Erie and the communities immediately along the lake shore get the brunt.

[RockLobster]

Snow Happens

[ditchdigger]

I lived in Erie for 36 years, here's the deal: as long as the lake is not frozen, most of western PA, especially NW PA, is open to being blasted by "lake effect" snow.

And while it's not specific to the OP's question, western PA will even see lake effect snow coming off of Lake Huron occasionally, and Huron is slower to freeze than Erie, because it's deeper.

[namdeguerre]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I lived in Erie for 36 years, here's the deal: as long as the lake is not frozen, most of western PA, especially NW PA, is open to being blasted by "lake effect" snow. As long as the winds are out of the northwest, the snow is carried to Interstated 90 and points south. If the winds, by chance, are out of the west, then the City of Erie and the communities immediately along the lake shore get the brunt.

@scottrpriester, thanks, that is what I was trying to figure out -is there a place which avoids snow completely? I guess not, so snow tires, even if they are not necessary, but I am sure they will be better than my current tires.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by namdeguerre

@scottrpriester, thanks, that is what I was trying to figure out -is there a place which avoids snow completely? I guess not, so snow tires, even if they are not necessary, but I am sure they will be better than my current tires.

Although I fully support the use of snow tires and will attest to their superiority in all snow conditions, I never used snow tires in all my years living in Erie. With the ever changing terrain in Pittsburgh, however, they give me a big advantage.

[RockLobster]

Great point on the Huron connection Ditch, so very very true !! Get a load of this. Have been looking at acerage up in the UP of Michigan.. Lake Effect there west of Marquette off Lake Superior results in 300 inch plus averages. With the 1800 ft elevated hills recieving 400 plus inches..That's a snow job !

[rhondee]

Originally Posted by psychomantis

Where snow tires really shine is driving on ice, not only from tread pattern but also bc they are made of a softer compound rubber that is designed to have more grip in freezing temperatures. All seasons are a harder compound and do not grip nearly as well in temps below freezing.

Good to know! Thanks for sharing the tip. I always wondered what the difference was between snow tires and all seasons.

[antiunion]

Originally Posted by namdeguerre

I am a newbie here, just going to start a job at GE in Erie. Buddy in college told me that if you are on the lake, you get no snow till January because of the warmth of the lake.

I visited here a couple of times and have looked at places in Millcreek and Summit - between I-90 and the 38th st, both west and east of I79.

Do I have to be closer to the lake to avoid snow?

Thanks

The lake effect snow goes all the way to the Pocono's, so I would guess somewhere around nothern Kentucky.