New York, 2001

Heavy Snow in New York, December 24 to 26, 2001

December 24 to 26, 2001 · NWS BUF · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Lake effect snowbands developed and persisted for an unprecedented five days meandering north and south across the region. Multiple bands of snow developed over the Niagara peninsula during Monday, the 24th , morning and extended into Niagara and northern Erie counties into early afternoon dropping up to six inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
$14 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

Lake effect snowbands developed and persisted for an unprecedented five days meandering north and south across the region. Multiple bands of snow developed over the Niagara peninsula during Monday, the 24th , morning and extended into Niagara and northern Erie counties into early afternoon dropping up to six inches. The activity consolidated into a single band during the mid-afternoon and dropped south across the Buffalo metro area through the evening and early overnight. Snowfall rates of 4" per hour and thunder were reported during the evening. The band drifted back north to the Niagara peninsula on Christmas day. On Wednesday the 26th, the band over the peninsula began to drift south and for the next two days continued to meander across Buffalo and its northern and southern suburbs. States of Emergency and driving bans were declared. The National Guard was called in to help in snow removal. Nearby cities including Rochester, New York and Toronto, Ontario sent snow removal crews and equipment to aid in the cleanup. The weight of the seven feet of snow caused roof collapses and in several cases entire buildings collapsed. On Grand Island, a storage building containing over one million dollars in boats collapsed. In Cheektowaga, Erie county, an 83-year-old man was killed when his carport collapsed on top of him. Specific storm totals included, in Niagara County: North Tonawanda 40"; Pendleton 39"; Wheatfield 31"; Middleport 26"; Niagara Falls 25"; Lewiston 25" and Lockport 24". In Erie County: Buffalo Airport 81.6"; West Seneca 72"; Lancaster/Depew 67"; Clarence 56"; Buffalo 49-63"; Amherst 46-55"; Boston 48"; Kenmore and Tonawanda 45"; Eden and Elma 43"; Grand Island 40"; East Aurora 38"; and Colden and Hamburg 36". In Genesee County: East Pembroke 29"; Darien 28"; Batavia 16"; and Alexander 14". In Wyoming county: Strykersville 49"; Warsaw 31"; Arcade 30"; Bennington 29" and Portageville 13".

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Niagara

When
December 24, 11:30 AM EST
Where
Niagara forecast zone
Property damage
$2.3 million
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.173, -78.691 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Erie

When
December 24, 3:30 PM EST
Where
Erie forecast zone
Property damage
$10 million
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Genesee

When
December 25, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Genesee forecast zone
Property damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.001, -78.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wyoming

When
December 26, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage
$1.0 million
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 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 2001

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: 5276012, 5276013, 5276014, 5276015.