National Weather Service Buffalo, New York

Western New York Weather History

JANUARY 29

 

1993

A west to northwest flow of very cold air across the open waters of Lake Ontario again produced lake effect snow showers and squalls. Snowfalls of six inches were recorded in southern Oswego county while to the north, up to seventeen inches of snow fell at Boonville and over portions of the Eastern Lake Ontario Counties. In addition to the snowfall, the gusty winds caused considerable blowing and drifting, lowering visibilities to near zero at times.

2004

28TH-31ST...A strong trough crossed the lower Great Lakes region. The well-aligned northwest flow kicked off an intense band of lake effect snow over Oswego county. The band remained nearly stationary for 36 to 42 hours. Four to five feet of snow fell in a narrow section of central Oswego county by Friday afternoon (the 30th). The band drifted north into southern Lewis and extreme southern Jefferson counties for awhile Friday night, before drifting back south across Monroe, Wayne and northern Cayuga counties on Saturday the 31st. Specific snowfall totals included: 86" in Parish; 58" in Constantia; 56" in West Monroe; 51" in North Osceola; 48" in Oswego; and 40" in Fulton. The weight of this snow, as well as previous lake effect storms during the month, caused several buildings to collapse in Monroe and Wayne counties. In Wayne county, about 25 boats were damaged in Sodus Point when the roofed caved in on a large storage building. Because of the heavy lake effect snows throughout the month of January, Oswego , Jefferson and Cayuga counties were declared State and Federal Disaster areas. Off Lake Erie , snowfalls were limited by the ice cover on the lake. Lake effect snow prevailed over the higher elevations south of Buffalo from late Wednesday (28th) into Friday. Reported snowfall totals included: 18" at Orangeville; 14" at Warsaw and Arkwright; 12" at South Wales ; and 8" at Perrysburg.