Winter Storm in Chautauqua, New York

An area of low pressure developed over the upper Ohio Valley along a passing cold front on the afternoon of January 14th. As temperatures cooled across the Western and north Central New York areas, rain mixed with and then changed to snow. Snow continued across much of the Buffalo forecast area through the day on Thursday January 15th as the surface low tracked from Northwestern Pennsylvania to Central New York. Cold air filtering into the region, along with mid-level troughs over the region helped increase lake enhancement off of both Lake Erie and Ontario. The snow finally tapered off later in the day on January 15th as drier air and a ridge built into the region. While snowfall amounts weren't overly impressive by Buffalo standards, the widespread nature of the snowfall did cause more disruptions to daily activities than snow from a lake effect event with similar amounts.

While most snowfall ranged from six to ten inches across most of the Buffalo forecast area, there were some larger amounts closer to the foot and a half to two foot mark where lake enhancement really increased snow rates. Notable snowfall amounts from around the Buffalo forecast area include: 21.6 inches in Eden, 17.0 inches in North Boston, 16.0 inches in West Falls, 16.0 inches in Newfane, 13.3 inches in North Tonawanda, 12.1 inches in Lockport, 9.5 inches in Perrysburg, 9.4 inches in Mexico, 9.0 inches in Hamlin and 9.0 inches in Cassadaga.