New York, 2002

Heavy Snow in New York, December 1 to 2, 2002

December 1 to 2, 2002 · NWS BUF · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

Lake effect snows developed in a cold, northwest flow during the overnight hours of the first. Over the higher elevations of Chautauqua county up to 18" of snow fell.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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
$110,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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 snows developed in a cold, northwest flow during the overnight hours of the first. Over the higher elevations of Chautauqua county up to 18" of snow fell. As the winds backed to southwest, the snow band lifted north and settled over the City of Buffalo and its northern suburbs. On the second, the band weakened and drifted back south. Specific reports included: Ashville 26"; Orchard Park 22"; Elma 20"; Alden and Findley Lake 18"; East Pembroke 17"; and North Tonawanda 11". Off Lake Ontario a weaker snow band developed with accumulations of eight to twelve inches over the north country. Reports included: 12" at Watertown and 9" at Highmarket and West Monroe.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Chautauqua

When
December 1, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Chautauqua forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.303, -79.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cattaraugus

When
December 1, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Cattaraugus forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.249, -78.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Oswego

When
December 1, 10:00 AM EST
Where
Oswego forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.464, -76.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Erie

When
December 2, 6:45 AM EST
Where
Erie forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wyoming

When
December 2, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.702, -78.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Jefferson

When
December 2, 7:05 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, Lewis

When
December 2, 7:50 AM EST
Where
Lewis forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.785, -75.449 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Genesee

When
December 2, 8:20 AM EST
Where
Genesee forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.001, -78.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Niagara

When
December 2, 9:09 AM EST
Where
Niagara forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.173, -78.691 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Orleans

When
December 2, 9:09 AM EST
Where
Orleans forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
43.251, -78.189 (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 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 2002

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5324358, 5324359, 5324360, 5324361, 5324362, 5324363, 5324364, 5324365, 5324366, 5324367.