LAKE EFFECT STORM "HICKORY"

December 24 - 27, 2000

Lake Flake Scale: **** 4 Flakes

Maximum Snowfall: Lk. Ont.: 46" (Parish); Lk. Erie: 17" (Sinclairville).

Duration: 80 Hours +/-

Prime Feature: Persistence, northwest flow.

Lake effect Storm "Hickory" was a long lasting event which features nearly continuous snowfall on a general west to northwest flow. The event began following a sharp frontal passage on Christmas Eve...with the bands setting up over Oswego County off Lake Ontario and southern Erie/Wyoming counties off Lake Erie. The activity waned some on Christmas Day as it drifted south....but intensified with weak trof passages on 26^th and especially late on 26^th through most of 27^th before enough subsidence built in to shut it down early on 28^th.

The snowfall amounts were excessive...due primarily to the length of the event. The activity was spread out fairly well too...with nearly all of the region picking up a few inches at one time or another.

Oswego county was particularly hard hit...especially the area from Fulton to Parish which received three feet or more. The heavy snows extended down into the Syracuse area as well...with well over a foot being recorded...especially on the north side of town.

This event earned four-flakes on our "flake scale" because of its longevity and intensity. The population impact factor was moderate.