Alert archive / New York / Lake Effect Snow Advisories in 2014

Lake Effect Snow Advisory 26, NWS Buffalo, NY

December 31, 2014Monroe County, Orleans County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this lake effect snow advisory at Dec 31, 2014, 5:15 PM EST for Monroe County, Orleans County, New York. It took effect at Dec 31, 2014, 6:00 PM EST. It was in force for 16 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 31, 2014, 5:15 PM EST (22:15 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 31, 2014, 6:00 PM EST
Expired
Jan 1, 2015, 10:00 AM EST
In force
16 hr
Issued by
NWS Buffalo, NY

Counties Monroe County, NY, Orleans County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:17 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 71 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2014-12-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2014-12-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1003 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
131 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this lake effect snow advisory went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Buffalo, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this lake effect snow advisory went out at Dec 31, 3:54 PM EST, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 31, 3:54 PM EST, 1 hour 21 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 31, 3:57 PM EST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 31, 1:56 PM EST, 3 hours 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
156 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

NYZ007-008-312000-
JEFFERSON NY-LEWIS NY-
156 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA...

* AT 149 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SNOWFALL RATES OF 2 TO 3
  INCHES PER HOUR...AND VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. THIS LAKE
  EFFECT SNOW BAND WAS LOCATED IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND WESTERN
  LEWIS COUNTIES MOVING NORTHEAST.

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND INCLUDE...
  BARNES CORNERS...
  CALCIUM...
  FORT DRUM...
  CARTHAGE AND WEST CARTHAGE...
  LOWVILLE...
  INDIAN RIVER...
  WATERTOWN...
  COPENHAGEN...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 81 BETWEEN EXITS 39 AND 49.

DRIVING WITHIN THIS SNOW BAND WILL BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES WITH SNOW
COVERED AND SLIPPERY ROADWAYS. IF TRAVELING ACROSS THE AREA SLOW DOWN
AND BE PREPARED FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

DRIVING WITHIN THIS SNOW BAND WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT WITH SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITY. IF TRAVELING ACROSS THE AREA
ALLOW FOR PLENTY OF EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION.

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...BE PREPARED BY HAVING AN EMERGENCY KIT...EXTRA
BLANKETS AND WARM CLOTHING IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR VEHICLE HAS
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR GETS STUCK. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FULLY CHARGED
CELL PHONE.

LAT...LON 4371 7622 4380 7624 4384 7632 4389 7627
      4391 7621 4387 7621 4392 7614 4398 7622
      4395 7627 4396 7629 4405 7631 4407 7638
      4411 7638 4433 7567 4410 7516 4371 7512

SW
Special weather statement, Dec 31, 2:57 PM EST, 2 hours 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
257 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

NYZ001-003-010>013-019-020-085-312045-
CATTARAUGUS NY-CHAUTAUQUA NY-ERIE NY-GENESEE NY-LIVINGSTON NY-MONROE
NY-NIAGARA NY-WYOMING NY-
257 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA...

* AT 250 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2
  INCHES PER HOUR...AND VISIBILITY OF A QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS.
  THIS LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND WAS LOCATED FROM NORTHERN CHAUTAUQUA
  COUNTY...NORTHEAST THROUGH ERIE...GENESEE...AND WYOMING COUNTIES.

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND INCLUDE...
  DUNKIRK...
  HAMBURG...
  WEST SENECA...
  ALDEN...
  PEMBROKE...
  BATAVIA...

THIS INCLUDES THE NEW YORK THRUWAY BETWEEN EXITS 47 AND 59.

* STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH THE COLD TEMPERATURES TO
  PRODUCE WIND CHILL VALUES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS.

DRIVING WITHIN THIS SNOW BAND WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT WITH SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITY. IF TRAVELING ACROSS THE AREA
ALLOW FOR PLENTY OF EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION.

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...BE PREPARED BY HAVING AN EMERGENCY KIT...EXTRA
BLANKETS AND WARM CLOTHING IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR VEHICLE HAS
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR GETS STUCK. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FULLY CHARGED
CELL PHONE.

LAT...LON 4250 7935 4256 7916 4271 7904 4278 7886
      4293 7891 4300 7903 4304 7902 4306 7890
      4303 7884 4309 7872 4308 7848 4313 7846
      4313 7790 4305 7795 4299 7790 4289 7796
      4269 7796 4259 7801 4243 7923 4246 7941

SW
Special weather statement, Dec 31, 3:06 PM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
306 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

NYZ007-008-312100-
JEFFERSON NY-LEWIS NY-
306 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA...

* AT 253 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2
  INCHES PER HOUR...AND VISIBILITY OF A QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS.
  THIS LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND WAS LOCATED IN NORTHERN LEWIS AND
  NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND INCLUDE...
  DEXTER...
  FORT DRUM...
  CHAUMONT...
  NATURAL BRIDGE...
  PHILADELPHIA...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 81 BETWEEN EXITS 41 AND 51.

* STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH THE COLD TEMPERATURES TO PRODUCE
  WIND CHILL VALUES DOWN TO THE SINGLE DIGITS.

DRIVING WITHIN THIS SNOW BAND WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT WITH SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITY. IF TRAVELING ACROSS THE AREA
ALLOW FOR PLENTY OF EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION.

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...BE PREPARED BY HAVING AN EMERGENCY KIT...EXTRA
BLANKETS AND WARM CLOTHING IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR VEHICLE HAS
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR GETS STUCK. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FULLY CHARGED
CELL PHONE.

LAT...LON 4410 7516 4396 7515 4371 7621 4380 7624
      4384 7631 4389 7627 4391 7621 4387 7621
      4392 7614 4398 7622 4395 7627 4396 7629
      4405 7631 4407 7638 4411 7638 4426 7606
      4439 7583

SW
Special weather statement, Dec 31, 3:49 PM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
349 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

NYZ001-010>012-019-020-085-312145-
CATTARAUGUS NY-CHAUTAUQUA NY-ERIE NY-GENESEE NY-NIAGARA NY-WYOMING
NY-
349 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA...

* AT 345 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2
  INCHES PER HOUR...AND VISIBILITY OF A QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS.
  THIS LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND WAS LOCATED FROM NORTHERN CHAUTAUQUA
  COUNTY...NORTHEAST THROUGH ERIE...GENESEE...AND WYOMING COUNTIES.

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND INCLUDE...
  ORCHARD PARK...
  EDEN...
  HAMBURG...
  WEST SENECA...
  ALDEN...
  EAST PEMBROKE...
  BATAVIA...

THIS INCLUDES THE NEW YORK THRUWAY BETWEEN EXITS 48 AND 59.

* STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH THE COLD TEMPERATURES TO
  PRODUCE WIND CHILL VALUES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS.

DRIVING WITHIN THIS SNOW BAND WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT WITH SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITY. IF TRAVELING ACROSS THE AREA
ALLOW FOR PLENTY OF EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION.

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...BE PREPARED BY HAVING AN EMERGENCY KIT...EXTRA
BLANKETS AND WARM CLOTHING IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR VEHICLE HAS
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR GETS STUCK. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FULLY CHARGED
CELL PHONE.

LAT...LON 4250 7935 4256 7916 4269 7906 4276 7890
      4279 7886 4287 7888 4308 7848 4313 7846
      4312 7794 4303 7797 4289 7805 4270 7832
      4243 7923 4246 7941

SW
Special weather statement, Dec 31, 4:00 PM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Dec 31, 4:37 PM EST, 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
437 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

NYZ002-003-010>013-085-312230-
ERIE NY-GENESEE NY-LIVINGSTON NY-MONROE NY-ORLEANS NY-WYOMING NY-
437 PM EST WED DEC 31 2014

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA...

* AT 423 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2
  INCHES PER HOUR...AND VISIBILITY OF A QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS.
  THIS LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND WAS LOCATED FROM THE BUFFALO SOUTHTOWNS
  TO WESTERN GENESEE COUNTY AND WESTERN MONROE COUNTY.

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND INCLUDE...
  ORCHARD PARK...
  WEST SENECA...
  ELMA...
  ALDEN...
  AKRON...
  BATAVIA AND OAKFIELD...
  LE ROY...
  BYRON...
  CALEDONIA...
  BROCKPORT AND CHURCHVILLE...
  SPENCERPORT...

* ADDITIONALLY...GUSTY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AND ACCUMULATING
  SNOWFALL WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

DRIVING WITHIN THIS SNOW BAND WILL BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES WITH SNOW
COVERED AND SLIPPERY ROADWAYS. IF TRAVELING ACROSS THE AREA SLOW DOWN
AND BE PREPARED FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

LAT...LON 4264 7885 4276 7890 4278 7886 4282 7888
      4285 7887 4337 7790 4335 7785 4302 7761

HIBBERT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Buffalo, NY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 30, 9:08 PM ESTGale WarningBUF52 hr
Dec 30, 10:02 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFJefferson, Oswego73 min
Dec 30, 11:18 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFLewis, Oswego72 min
Dec 31, 12:27 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFLewis, Oswego48 min
Dec 31, 1:43 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFOswego92 min
Dec 31, 3:10 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFOswego95 min
Dec 31, 4:44 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFLewis, Oswego76 min
Dec 31, 6:16 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFOswego89 min
Dec 31, 7:46 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFOswego74 min
Dec 31, 8:54 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFOswego66 min
Dec 31, 9:50 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFOswego70 min
Dec 31, 10:57 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFLewis, Oswego63 min
Dec 31, 11:36 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua84 min
Dec 31, 12:51 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFJefferson, Lewis54 min
Dec 31, 12:54 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFErie66 min
Dec 31, 1:24 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFErie, Genesee, Wyoming81 min
Dec 31, 1:56 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFJefferson, Lewis64 min
Dec 31, 2:57 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFErie, Genesee, Wyoming48 min
Dec 31, 3:06 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFJefferson54 min
Dec 31, 3:49 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFErie, Genesee56 min
Dec 31, 4:00 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFJefferson60 min
Dec 31, 4:37 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFErie, Genesee53 min
Dec 31, 5:37 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFErie, Genesee83 min
Dec 31, 6:01 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementBUFJefferson89 min

Nearby

Lake Effect Snow Advisories in New York, 2014Every lake effect snow advisory in 2014

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.