Blizzard — Northern Erie, New York

2018-01-02 · Northern Erie, New York

Wider weather episode

This storm was a rare lake effect blizzard, producing a period of blizzard conditions northeast of Lakes Erie and Ontario. A strong pressure gradient developed between a strong high over the Ohio Valley and low pressure just north of the Great Lakes on the 2nd with wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph northeast of Lakes Erie and Ontario.

Off Lake Erie, light snow showers east of the lake during the early morning of the 2nd consolidated into a band of moderate snow centered on the Buffalo Metro Area by late morning as winds become southwest and increased. This band of snow remained in place through late afternoon before weakening by evening. Snowfall amounts were not at all impressive, with reports of only two to six inches of accumulation. The strong winds were the big story, with blizzard conditions developing across the Buffalo Metro Area with near zero visibility and significant blowing and drifting snow. The very poor visibility resulted in numerous accidents and traffic backups. One of these accidents involved 75 cars and 25 commercial vehicles on the New York State Thruway (I-90) between Exits 49 (Depew) and the Williamsville Tolls. The Thruway was closed all afternoon along this stretch due to the pileup. There was one fatality and seven injuries in the accident.

Off Lake Ontario, weak lake effect snow showers during the morning of the 2nd consolidated into a single band of heavy snow during the afternoon as flow became well aligned from the west-southwest. The heaviest snow targeted the central and northern Tug Hill region during the afternoon and evening, with snowfall rates of two to three inches per hour at times. The heavy snow continued through the late evening on the 2nd, before moving north across Jefferson County and weakening during the wee hours of the morning on the 3rd. Snowfall was heavy with an area of one to two feet of accumulation across the central and northern Tug Hill Plateau, and five to nine inches across the adjacent lower elevations. The wind was a much bigger problem however, with strong wind gusts producing blizzard conditions at times with near zero visibility and significant blowing and drifting snow. This resulted in significant travel disruptions east of Lake Ontario, including the Interstate 81 corridor from Parish to Adams.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 737519. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.