Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New York, March 4, 1999

Name: Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New York, March 4, 1999
Start: 1999-03-04T06:40
End: 1999-03-04T16:30
Location: New York

March 4, 1999 · NWS BUF · 15 events in 13 counties and zones

Deep low pressure moved from West Virginia north across New York to Quebec, Canada. Heavy rain changed to heavy snow as cold air circulated into the region.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 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: $5.5 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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.

Deep low pressure moved from West Virginia north across New York to Quebec, Canada. Heavy rain changed to heavy snow as cold air circulated into the region. Snow fell at the rate of two to three inches per hour. Across Monroe and Wayne counties snowfall amounts were greatest with over two feet falling. Snow fall amounts dropped off both east and west of that area. The strong winds off Lake Ontario resulted in blizzard conditions over Monroe and Wayne counties for nearly six hours. Drifts reached four to five feet in places. The New York State Thruway (I-90) was closed from Depew to Syracuse. Several hundred cars were stranded in the closed section. The Governor declared Monroe, Wayne, Oswego, Wyoming, Livingston, and Cayuga counties State Disaster Areas. Orleans, Ontario, Wyoming, Livingston, Monroe and Wayne counties were also declared Federal Disaster Areas. The National Guard was called on to help remove cars, rescue stranded motorists and deliver food and medical supplies. Schools and businesses were closed throughout the area. Nearly 10,000 customers lost power during the storm. Specific snowfall reports included: Hamlin 28"; Perinton and Fairport 26"; Penfield 25"'; Ontario and Rochester Airport 24"; Walworth 23"; Victor 22"; Greece and Webster 20"; Portageville 17"; Palmyra, Canandaigua, Avon and Franklinville 16"; Mt. Morris 15"; Dansville 14"; Oswego, Honeoye, and Angelica 13"; Batavia, Friendship and Albion 12"; Olean, Alfred, Whitesville, and Strykersville 11"; Sodus and Salamanca 10"; Bennington 9"; Wales 8"; and Darien and Arkwright 7".

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 heavy snow, 2 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Erie

When: March 4, 6:40 AM EST
Where: Erie forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Monroe

When: March 4, 6:55 AM EST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.165, -77.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Orleans

When: March 4, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Orleans forecast zone
Property damage: $350,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.251, -78.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cattaraugus

When: March 4, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Cattaraugus forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.249, -78.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Livingston

When: March 4, 7:15 AM EST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.728, -77.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Allegany

When: March 4, 7:15 AM EST
Where: Allegany forecast zone
Property damage: $125,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.257, -78.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Ontario

When: March 4, 8:02 AM EST
Where: Ontario forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.853, -77.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Genesee

When: March 4, 8:05 AM EST
Where: Genesee forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.001, -78.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wyoming

When: March 4, 8:05 AM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage: $350,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.702, -78.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wayne

When: March 4, 8:30 AM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.066, -76.978 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Chautauqua

When: March 4, 8:40 AM EST
Where: Chautauqua forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.303, -79.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Monroe

When: March 4, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $1.5 million
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.165, -77.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Wayne

When: March 4, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.066, -76.978 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Cayuga

When: March 4, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Cayuga forecast zone
Property damage: $125,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.010, -76.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Oswego

When: March 4, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Oswego forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.464, -76.209 (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.
Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New York in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in New York, March 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: 5691750, 5691751, 5691752, 5691753, 5691754, 5691755, 5691756, 5691757, 5691758, 5691759, 5691760, 5691857, 5691858, 5691859, 5691860.