Heavy Snow in New York, December 10, 1997

Name: Heavy Snow in New York, December 10, 1997
Start: 1997-12-10T14:40
End: 1997-12-10T19:00
Location: New York

December 10, 1997 · NWS BUF · 9 events in 8 counties and zones

Moisture associated with low pressure approaching the area overspread the region. Most locations had a burst of snow which fell at the rate of one to two inches per hour for several hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $107,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BUF wrote it up.

Moisture associated with low pressure approaching the area overspread the region. Most locations had a burst of snow which fell at the rate of one to two inches per hour for several hours. The heaviest snow fell at the worst possible time, creating havoc with the rush hour traffic. Numerous auto accidents were blamed on the storm and several school districts were forced to close early. Snowfall totals ranged from four to six inches in the Buffalo and Rochester metro areas to a foot of heavy,wet snow across the higher elevations of the Finger Lakes and the southern tier. Specific snowfall amounts included: 13" in Ellicottville; 12" in Arkwright, Perrysburg, Portageville, and Arcade; and 10" in Stockton, South Dayton, Belmont, Perry, and Springville.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Cattaraugus

When: December 10, 2:40 PM EST
Where: Cattaraugus forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 42.249, -78.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Allegany

When: December 10, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Allegany forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 42.257, -78.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Genesee

When: December 10, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Genesee forecast zone
Property damage: $12,000
Coordinates: 43.001, -78.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Erie

When: December 10, 3:40 PM EST
Where: Erie forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Coordinates: 42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wyoming

When: December 10, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Coordinates: 42.702, -78.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Chautauqua

When: December 10, 4:05 PM EST
Where: Chautauqua forecast zone
Property damage: $12,000
Coordinates: 42.303, -79.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Livingston

When: December 10, 4:20 PM EST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.728, -77.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wyoming

When: December 10, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage: $12,000
Coordinates: 42.702, -78.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Ontario

When: December 10, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Ontario forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 42.853, -77.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New York in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in New York, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5620413, 5620414, 5620415, 5620416, 5620417, 5620418, 5620419, 5620420, 5620421.