New York, 1999

Heavy Snow in New York, December 16 to 17, 1999

December 16 to 17, 1999 · NWS BUF · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Off Lake Erie the band of precipitation began across the Niagara Peninsula, but settled south quickly across the Buffalo metro area before settling over southern Erie, Wyoming and the northern portions of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Snow fell heavily in this area and thunder was reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$46,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

Cold air crossing the Great Lakes produced lake effect snows downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario.Off Lake Erie the band of precipitation began across the Niagara Peninsula, but settled south quickly across the Buffalo metro area before settling over southern Erie, Wyoming and the northern portions of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Snow fell heavily in this area and thunder was reported. Snowfall totals were close to a foot with specific reports of 14" at Perrysburg; 11" at Springville, and 10" at Warsaw, Colden and Wales.Off Lake Ontario, the activity began as a mix of rain, sleet and snow showers. Lake bands became better organized overnight with one to two inches per hour over the Tug Hill. Specific snowfall reports included 17" at Montague, 10" at Highmarket and 6" at Lowville.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Cattaraugus

When
December 16, 3:30 PM EST
Where
Cattaraugus forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.249, -78.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Erie

When
December 16, 5:05 PM EST
Where
Erie forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Chautauqua

When
December 16, 11:00 PM EST
Where
Chautauqua forecast zone
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.303, -79.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lewis

When
December 17, 2:15 AM EST
Where
Lewis forecast zone
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.785, -75.449 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Jefferson

When
December 17, 3:00 AM EST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.999, -76.052 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wyoming

When
December 17, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.702, -78.224 (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

More

Every storm in New York in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 1999

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5720674, 5720675, 5720676, 5720677, 5720678, 5720679.