Active Weather for the West, Warming in the East

The potential for heavy snow at higher elevations in the western U.S. will continue for many spots through the weekend. In the meantime, the eastern half of the continental U.S. will transition to above normal temperatures ahead of a pair of cold fronts next week that will bring readings back to closer to normal as we approach Thanksgiving Day. Read More >

Western New York Weather History

JANUARY 25

1972

A windstorm on the 25th with temperature at Buffalo 51 degrees at 1am then dropping to 10 above at midnight. Peak gusts of 66 mph were reported. Lake front flooding on Lake Erie with storm surge of 9.2 feet at 7:45am. Minor flooding occurred on Cayuga Island in the Niagara River.

1976

An icy rain formed a fine glaze on runways at the Buffalo Airport, causing a shutdown of flight operations for nearly two hours. Takeoffs and landing were stopped at 4:28pm and resumed at 6:18pm. At Monroe County Airport in Rochester, two occupants of a single engine Cherokee aircraft escaped injury when ice formed on their windshield and forced them to miss a runway by 50 feet.

1993

Following the passage of a cold front, a brisk northwest flow of arctic air across Lake Ontario produced snow squalls over parts of the Eastern Lake Ontario counties and the Eastern Finger Lakes Region. Seven inches of snow was recorded at Hancock Airport in Syracuse and at Pulaski in Oswego County.

1996

An isolated, very narrow streamer off Lake Huron stalled just north of the Buffalo metro area in the night of the 24th-25th. The lake effect band, only about five miles wide, dropped six inches in Kenmore and Marilla.

1997

Low pressure brought snow to the eastern Lake Ontario region during the overnight hours. Over the higher elevations of the Tug Hill, the colder temperatures resulted in heavy snow amounts. Several auto accidents were blamed on the snow and slippery conditions. Specific reports included: Highmarket 11"; Carthage 8"; and Redfield 7".

2003

Lake effect snows developed off Lake Ontario in a light westerly flow. Although the snows did not extend very far inland, the extremely cold temperatures resulted in very fluffy, low density snow that accumulated eight to ten inches over parts of Oswego County.

2006

25th-26th Low pressure moved across southern Ontario bringing a general snowfall to the area. Snowfall amounts were enhanced over the higher elevations of the western southern tier and parts of the Tug Hill region. In addition, strong westerly winds produced considerable blowing and drifting snow, making travel hazardous. Specific snow totals included: 20" at Ellicottville; 16" at South Dayton; 12" at Perrysburg, Warsaw, and Jamestown; 11" at Cherry Hill and Chaffee; and 8" at South Wales and Hannibal.