Lake-Effect Snow — Northern Erie, New York

2021-02-06 · Northern Erie, New York

Wider weather episode

Strong cold advection behind a front pushed much colder air aloft over the area. However, as it did so, winds remained very southwesterly as the initial lake effect bands formed. This allowed the first Lake Erie bands to develop over the Niagara Peninsula before crossing the Niagara River and swinging rapidly across Niagara and Erie counties before sitting a while and eventually advancing back northward toward the City of Buffalo. Off Lake Ontario, the initial bands formed over the Thousand Islands region below shifting southward. The heaviest snow rates observed generally ranged on the order of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Luckily, the bands were transient, so while snow totals were heavy, nowhere saw extreme accumulations. Selected snow totals included 15 inches in Hooker, 7 inches in Orchard Park, 13.2 inches in Pembroke, 8.3 inches in Attica, 10.2 inches in Watertown, 10 inches in Lancaster, and 7.4 inches at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 945202. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.