Weather History for December 23

News Headlines

Spring Skywarn Spotter Training Schedule

Western New York Weather History

DECEMBER 23

1960

A heavy snowburst hit Buffalo during the night and early morning hours of the 22nd and 23rd with paralyzing effects in the eastern half of the city and in the eastern suburbs. The 10.2 inches of snow at the Airport closed it temporarily.

1999

22nd-24th…The season's first lengthy lake effect episode began late on the 21st following a cold front. Off Lake Erie, snow fell at the rate of two inches per hour at the peak of the storm. The band drifted from the ski country to the southern suburbs of Buffalo. The activity shifted back south on the 23rd and reintensified overnight. The heaviest snows fell close to the lake shore as the winds were fairly light. Specific storm totals included: 20" Derby and Evans; 18" Stockton, Dunkirk and Hamburg; 17" Perrysburg; 12" Orchard Park and Silver Creek; 10" East Aurora; 9" Bennington; and 6" at Lancaster and Jamestown. East of Lake Ontario, a single intense band remained nearly stationary from the morning of the 22nd through the night of the 23rd-24th. A narrow area along the Jefferson-Oswego county line received over three feet of snow. The heavy band shifted south across Oswego County by the early morning of the 24th. Storm totals included: 54" at Sandy Creek; 42" at Montague; 40" at Redfield; 37" at Mannsville; 31" at Lacona; 26" at Hooker; 25" at Adams; 24" at North Osceola; 15" at Lowville; 12" at Parish; and 10" at Oswego.

2002

A single plume of lake effect snow developed off Lake Ontario in an extremely cold, northwest flow. During it's peak, snowfall rates as high as five inches per hour were accompanied by thunder and lightning. Snowfall reports included: Castorland 24"; Highmarket 14"; Hooker 13"; and North Osceola 12".

2007

23rd-24th...A potent cold front crossed the region during the afternoon hours. Behind the front, windy conditions developed. Scattered power outages were reported across the western parts of the Niagara Frontier and the strong winds were funneled over Lake Erie. Sustained winds to 40 mph were measured at Niagara Falls International Airport and gusts to 61 mph were measured at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Radar