Weather History for February 10

FEBRUARY 10

1876

A freshet occurred about 9am in Buffalo River. Ice broke and was borne down by the swift current. Several vessels were wrenched from their moorings in the harbor and carried down towards the harbor but were secured again after sustaining considerable damage. Current diverted into canals and slips before reaching the mouth of the river and the ice still remains there. Schooner Wanconia sustained injuries to the extent of about $1,000; the barge Ogarita received slight injuries and several vessels with which they collided.

2001

Deep low pressure over the western Great Lakes moved across Ontario to Quebec and dragged a cold front across the area. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph were reported  with gusts up to 76 mph recorded. The strong winds downed trees and utility lines throughout a fourteen county area of western and northern New York. Several hundred thousand customers were without power. Roads were blocked by downed trees. There were numerous reports of property damage from the winds, mostly from trees falling on buildings and cars. Specifically, this was reported from Carthage, Jefferson county, Geneva, Ontario county, Pittsford and Honeoye Falls, Monroe county, Perry, Wyoming county, Newark, Wayne county and Salamanca, Cattaraugus county. Four 40' high masonry walls of an school pool and gymnasium under construction in Macedon, Wayne county, were toppled by the wind. Large plate glass windows were blown out in the Grant Building in Jamestown, Chautauqua county. A barn was blown down in Gorham, Ontario county. In Fairport, Monroe county, a winter carnival had to be cancelled because the high winds tore apart a large tent erected for the carnival. In Martinsburg, Lewis county, the high winds toppled a barn, killing nearly fifty head of cattle inside. Specific measured wind gusts were: 76 mph in Oswego, Oswego county, 74 mph in Sodus, Wayne county, 71 mph in Rochester, Monroe county, 66 mph in Forestville, Chautauqua county, 64 mph in Randolph, Chautauqua county, 65 mph in West Seneca, Erie county, 62 mph in Sherman, Chautauqua county, 61 mph in Alexander, Genesee county, 59 mph in Weedsport, Cayuga county, and 58 mph in Niagara Falls, Niagara county and Albion, Orleans county.

2008

An arctic front roared across the eastern Lakes region on Sunday morning Feb 10th. Snow squalls accompanied the front with strong northwest winds developing behind the front. The strong winds blew about the freshly-fallen snow producing whiteout conditions in blowing snow on Interstate 390 in the City of Gates. A 36-car accident occurred. A 17-year old girl died in the accident with nearly two dozen others taken to the hospital.

Bands of lake snows developed by mid to late afternoon of the 10th east of Lake Ontario and became intense Sunday night and most of Monday. The bands started across northern Oswego county and the Tug Hill, edged southward into central Oswego county for much of Monday before lifting north a bit again Monday night and shutting down overnight into Tuesday morning. This event was exacerbated by very strong winds Sunday night into Monday morning which resulted in many whiteouts and road closures, including I-81. The State University of New York at Oswego cancelled classes on Monday the 11th. This was the most severe lake effect event of the 07-08 winter season in regard to winds, visibilities and frigid temperatures which were just above zero, with wind chills of -20, dangerous conditions. Specific snowfalls reported: 41 inches at Minetto, 26 inches at Mexico, 24 inches at Oswego, 20 inches at Pulaski, and 17 inches Boonville.