NWS Buffalo Station Digest

NWSFO BUFFALO, NY   (BUF)

STATION LOCATION: The office is located on Aero Drive behind the Greater Buffalo International Airport. The airport is three miles east of the Buffalo city line on Genesee Street, Route 33. Aero Drive runs parallel with Genesee Street (Holtz Road to Aero Drive). Telephones: (716) 565-0204 (listed). Address is: 587 Aero Drive, Buffalo, NY 14225-1405.

STATION ACTIVITY: The 24-hour operations consist of:

a. Observations - Continuous radar (WSR-88D) network observations are taken by the National Weather Service staff at the NWSFO. The NWSFO staff is responsible for snowfall measurements and takes upper air observations.

b. Forecasts - Aviation terminal forecasts for five airports in Western New York (Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Jamestown, Rochester, and Watertown).  General public service forecasts and warnings for 16 counties in Western New York State, including metropolitan Buffalo. Warning of severe local storms, floods and flash floods. Marine forecasts for Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River above St. Regis and nearshore marine forecasts along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario shores of New York State.

c. Briefing – In-person and telephone briefings for the general public available from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. Recorded telephone forecasts are available 24 hours a day.

d. VHF-FM - Continuous radio broadcasts on severn NWR transmitters in Western and north-central New York, including:  Buffalo KEB-98 (162.55 Mhz); Frewsburg WNG-541 (162.525 Mhz); Little Valley WWG-32 (162.425 Mhz); Rochester KHA-53 (162.40 Mhz); Spencerport WNG-539 (162.525 Mhz), Lyons WZ2536 (162.475 Mhz) and Watertown WXN-68 (162.475 Mhz).

TRANSIENT AND PERMANENT LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels and motels are available immediately adjacent to the airport. Numerous other motels are available within a 10-mile radius. Average rent for an apartment in Buffalo is about $1000 per month. Rents for apartments and flats begin at about $350.00. Three-bedroom homes sell for over $150,000 in the communities adjacent to the airport. Small villages are located within easy motoring distance. Housing facilities are typical of those available in a large metropolitan area of over a million population. The airport is actually in Cheektowaga, New York, an eastern suburb of Buffalo, with continuing expansion in living and residential accommodations along with the many suburbs in a radius of three to eight miles of the airport.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION: Buses operate in the area and to the airport on an hourly schedule during the day and evening hours (none on Sunday). They pass anywhere from a half to one mile of the Observatory. A personally owned automobile is required and generally necessary if housing is not obtained within walking distance of the airport or the bus line serving it.

EATING FACILITIES: Available at several restaurants or motels around airport.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION: Buffalo, Erie County and Niagara Falls make up a large metropolitan area of over a million population, with most of the expected facilities. Schools and churches of all denominations are available, but not necessarily adjacent to the airport.

Institutions of higher learning include the State of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo State College, Canisius College, and Erie and Niagara Community Colleges. Numerous state, city and county parks and easy access to beaches on Lake Erie and Ontario provide year-round opportunities for sports and recreation. Western New York fans support the following major league teams: NFL Buffalo Bills and NHL Buffalo Sabres.   Buffalo is also home to Buffalo Bisons (AAA baseball), Buffalo Bandits (lacrosse), and Buffalo Blizzard (soccer). Skiers and snowmobilers have up to a dozen excellent resorts for winter fun between 10 and 60 miles of Buffalo.

TAXES: In addition to Federal and State income taxes, state and county sales taxes total 8.75%. Real estate and school taxes are moderately high.

CHILD CARE FACILITIES: There are no child care facilities available within the vicinity of the office.

CLIMATE: During the cold season, the temperatures in the Niagara Frontier are moderated (warmed) somewhat by the presence of the Great Lakes. A related lake effect also produces a wide range of annual snowfall within the area. The snowfall average in recent years has been over 90 inches of snow at the airport with lesser amounts to the north and greater amounts to the south.

During the warm season, Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier experience a very pleasant climate as the presence of the lakes "air condition" the area and retards cloud formation, producing a higher percent of sunshine during the summer months than many "so called" sun belt locations. Pleasant fall weather usually characterizes the area until lake snow squalls and cloudiness begin in mid to late November.