Western New York Weather History

DECEMBER 25

1973

Heavy rain and localized flooding on the 25th and 26th (1.21 inches of rain) caused minor street and basement flooding in Cheektowaga, Tonawanda and Amherst. Ellicott creek flooded on the 27th in Lancaster, Cheektowaga, Amherst and Tonawanda.

1978

On the 24th, the ground was bare and brown over most of the Buffalo area and there were golfers spotted at Cazenovia Park. By Christmas morning, several inches of heavy, wet snow had coated everything to create a storybook Christmas setting. Unfortunately, much heavier snowfall amounts east and south of Buffalo played havoc with holiday travelers...stranding motorists. Up to 2-1/2 feet buried parts of Allegany county where a State of Emergency was declared. Tree limbs and power lines were downed due to the weight of the snow.

1983

Snowsqualls began over the towns south of Buffalo on the 23rd. Propelled by a west wind, the squalls shifted north to Clarence, Cheektowaga and some parts of Buffalo, and then south, to south Buffalo, Lackawanna and Hamburg. The Airport closed intermittently on the 23rd and 24th and the Thruway was closed from Hamburg to the Pennsylvania line from the 24th until the 26th stranding about 700 persons. Snowfall amounts included: south Cheektowaga 15 inches; Lackawanna 12 inches; Alden 10 inches; West Seneca 8 inches; and Lockport 7 inches. In addition to the snow, frigid temperatures were blamed for scattered water main breaks in the city of Buffalo, the town of Tonawanda, and in Amherst. Police reported scores of stalled cars and accidents resulting from treacherous roads and whiteouts.

1992

A very strong cold front crossed the area during the evening hours of the 25th. Winds gusted to 59 MPH at Buffalo and 75 MPH at Dunkirk. Behind the front, the cold northwest flow across Lakes Erie and Ontario produced lake effect snow squalls. Snowfall of six inches were reported across Southern Erie and portions of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. To the lee of Lake Ontario, in Lewis County, 20 inches fell at Turin and 12 inches at Copenhagen. Orwell, in Oswego County, reported 16 inches.

1995

A very narrow band of lake effect snow began to develop off Lake Erie around midnight of the 25th and became heavier by 3AM, setting up across the Buffalo airport and north. The eight to ten mile wide band remained nearly stationary for about an eight hour period with snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour. Specific amounts included: Amherst 9"; North Buffalo 8"; and Cheektowaga and Kenmore 7".

1996

A quick episode of lake effect snow brought heavy snows of seven to thirteen inches across the southern portion of Erie county. Snowfall amounts included: Colden 13"; Strykersville 11"; Boston and Hamburg 10"; and Amherst 7". The snows wreaked havoc on holiday travlers as whiteouts and near-blizzard conditions prevailed. Several automobile accidents were blamed on the storm.

25th-26th… A flow of cold air across Lake Ontario produced lake effect snows east of Lake Ontario. Snowfall amounts up to 18 inches were reported including: 18" at Redfield and North Osceola and 8" at Montague and Adams. The snows wreaked havoc on holiday travelers as whiteout conditions forced the closing of parts of I-81.

2002

24TH-25TH...Low pressure moved northeast along the Appalachians and brought a general heavy snow to much of the region on Christmas eve and Christmas day. A eight to twelve inch blanket of snow covered the area with higher amounts generally over the Finger Lakes Region. The heavy snows slowed holiday travelers and caused limited delays that the Rochester Airport .

2003

An intense lake effect snow band developed around mid-morning Christmas day. The band dropped snow at an inch or more an hour for a few hours, broke up some, then reintensified before settling south into the ski country by late afternoon where it remained until midnight then dissipated. Snowfall amounts were focused in two areas: 8-14" of snow fell across the ridges from Perrysburg to Arcade and 4-8" across a narrow strip across the City of Buffalo to the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport .