LAKE EFFECT STORM "IRONWOOD"

January 27 - 28, 2001

Lake Flake scale: * 1 Flake.

Maximum Snowfall: Lk. Ontario: 12" (N. Osceola); Lk. Erie: 2-3" (Buffalo area).
Duration: 30 Hours
Prime Factor: Persistent westerly flow, PVA from approaching short wave.

Lake Effect Storm "Ironwood" was a relatively brief and marginal event which impacted only a small area east of Lake Ontario. The event began following a frontal passage during the 27^th which gave all areas 1 to 3 inches. Temperatures became marginally cold enough for bands of lake snows to develop off Ontario Saturday evening...then winds lined up westerly overnight...consolidating the band into a single one across Oswego and southern Lewis counties. A strong upper level disturbance raced ESE just to the north of Lake Ontario during Sunday...enhancing the activity for much of the day before subsidence shut it down Sunday night (28^th).

Snowfall amounts were generally 4 to 8 inches over most of Oswego and southern Lewis counties...with a foot at North Osceola on the Tug Hill.  Our North Osceola observer indicated that there was little wind associated with the snowfall.  This allowed the snow to pile up quickly.

Some activity did blossom for a few hours late Sunday morning off Lake Erie across the Buffalo area...but Lake Erie was largely ice covered...so amounts were limited to 1 to 3 inches.

The event...our only one during this quiet January...earned just one flake on our "flake scale" because of its very limited impact...both in amounts and population.