New York, 2013

Lake-Effect Snow in New York, December 15 to 16, 2013

December 15 to 16, 2013 · NWS BUF · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

A persistent upper level trough over eastern Canada kept a cold westerly flow over the Great Lakes. The event started Sunday afternoon (December 15th) to the east of Lake Erie during the afternoon 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.

A persistent upper level trough over eastern Canada kept a cold westerly flow over the Great Lakes. The event started Sunday afternoon (December 15th) to the east of Lake Erie during the afternoon hours. The snow fell at up to three inches per hour with near zero visibility in a 15-mile wide band from Hamburg and Orchard Park to East Aurora and Wales. Traffic cameras showed snow covered roads and near whiteout conditions with several reports of cars sliding off the road. The band extended inland across southern Genesee and northern Wyoming counties to northern Livingston County. Snow totals of up to a foot were reported in 3 hours between 4 and 7 P.M. across southern Erie and Genesee Counties along with numerous reports of thunder snow in the vicinity of Orchard Park. The band shifted back south under westerly winds during the evening and continued into the night. Snow totals of a bit over a foot accumulated across northern Chautauqua and Cattaraugus and southern Wyoming Counties. Specific reports included: 14 inches at West Valley, 13 inches at Perrysburg; 12 inches at Orchard Park and 11 inches at Varysburg and East Aurora.|Off Lake Ontario, the lake effect snow band formed Sunday evening with a long-axis parallel lake band focused directly east of the Lake across southern Jefferson and northern Oswego counties. The band maintained this position for about four hours before the band shifted south along the southern lake shore. Snowfall rates of three to four inches per hour were observed by researchers studying lake effect snow in northern Oswego County which produced snow accumulations of 8 to 14 inches east of the lake before the band shifted south. During the early morning hours of Monday December 16th thunder snow was also recorded in the Lake Ontario snow band. Through the remainder of the morning hours up to and past daybreak a very narrow and shallow lake band of less than five miles in wide hugged the southern Lake Ontario shoreline from Olcott in Niagara County to north of Rochester to the towns of Port Bay and Red Creek in far northeastern Wayne County. Specific snowfall reports included: 23 inches at Port Bay, 18 inches at Red Creek and 13 inches at Fair Haven and Lacona.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Buffalo, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 15, 3:27 PM EST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 15, 3:27 PM EST, 1 hour 33 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 15, 3:41 PM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

NYZ001-002-010-011-162045-
NIAGARA-ORLEANS-NORTHERN ERIE-GENESEE-
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF

NYZ012-019-020-085-162045-
WYOMING-CHAUTAUQUA-CATTARAUGUS-SOUTHERN ERIE-
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST MONDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF

NYZ021-162045-
ALLEGANY-
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF

NYZ003-013-014-162045-
MONROE-LIVINGSTON-ONTARIO-
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF

NYZ004>006-162045-
WAYNE-NORTHERN CAYUGA-OSWEGO-
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST MONDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH
CENTRAL NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF

NYZ007-162045-
JEFFERSON-
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF

NYZ008-162045-
LEWIS-
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST MONDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF

LEZ020-040-041-LOZ030-042>045-062>065-SLZ022-024-162045-
UPPER NIAGARA RIVER AND BUFFALO HARBOR-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM RIPLEY TO DUNKIRK-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM DUNKIRK TO BUFFALO-
LOWER NIAGARA RIVER-
LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE WATERS FROM THE NIAGARA RIVER TO HAMLIN BEACH-
LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE WATERS FROM HAMLIN BEACH TO SODUS BAY-
LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE WATERS FROM SODUS BAY TO MEXICO BAY-
LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE WATERS FROM MEXICO BAY TO THE SAINT LAWRENCE
RIVER-
LAKE ONTARIO OPEN WATERS FROM THE NIAGARA RIVER TO HAMLIN BEACH-
LAKE ONTARIO OPEN WATERS FROM HAMLIN BEACH TO SODUS BAY-
LAKE ONTARIO OPEN WATERS FROM SODUS BAY TO MEXICO BAY-
LAKE ONTARIO OPEN WATERS FROM MEXICO BAY TO THE SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER-
SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER FROM CAPE VINCENT TO OGDENSBURG-
SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER FROM OGDENSBURG TO SAINT REGIS-
341 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NEW YORK WATERS OF LAKE
ERIE...LAKE ONTARIO...AND THE SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 15, 1:29 PM EST, 3 hours 31 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Dec 15, 2:44 PM EST, 2 hours 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
244 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

NYZ012-019>021-085-152115-
WYOMING-CHAUTAUQUA-CATTARAUGUS-ALLEGANY-SOUTHERN ERIE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WARSAW...JAMESTOWN...OLEAN...
WELLSVILLE...ORCHARD PARK...SPRINGVILLE
244 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

...MODERATE LAKE EFFECT SNOW TO CONTINUE...

MODERATE LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHERN
ERIE...WYOMING...CHAUTUAQUA...CATTARAUGUS AND INTO ALLEGANY
COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON. SPECIFIC LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY
THE LAKE EFFECT SNOWS...FORESTVILLE...ARKWRIGHT...GOWANDA...COLLINS
SPRINGVILLE...EAST CONCORD...DELEVAN...ARCADE...BLISS AND
CENTERVILLE. SNOWFALL RATES OF UP TO AN INCH PER HOUR OR MORE WILL
BE LIKELY IN THESE AREAS...THIS WILL RESULT IN REDUCED VISIBILITIES
WHICH WILL MAKE FOR DIFFICULT TRAVEL CONDITIONS. IF TRAVELING
ACROSS THESE AREAS...EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER SLICK SPOTS AND SNOW COVERED
ROADWAYS. DRIVERS ARE URGED TO SLOW DOWN...ALLOW PLENTY OF
BREAKING DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR CAR AND OTHER VEHICLES. IN
ADDITION...BE PREPARED BY HAVE AN EMERGENCY TRAVEL KIT...EXTRA
BLANKETS AND WARM CLOTHING AS YOU TRAVEL IN CASE YOUR VEHICLE HAS
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR GETS STUCK.

REYNOLDS
Special weather statement, Dec 15, 3:06 PM EST, 1 hour 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
306 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

NYZ006>008-152200-
OSWEGO-JEFFERSON-LEWIS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OSWEGO...WATERTOWN...LOWVILLE
306 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

...LAKE EFFECT SNOWS TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP...

LAKE EFFECT SNOWS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE EASTERN
LAKE ONTARIO REGION THIS AFTERNOON. SPECIFIC LOCATIONS THAT WILL
LIKELY BE IMPACTED BY THE LAKE EFFECT SNOWS...PULASKI...ALTMAR
REDFIELD...SANDY CREEK...MANNSVILLE...WORTH...BARNES CORNERS...THE
TUG HILL AND I-81 FROM PARISH TO WATERTOWN. SNOWFALL RATES OF UP
TO AN INCH PER HOUR WILL BE LIKELY...RESULTING IN REDUCED
VISIBILITIES...SLICK SPOTS AND SNOW COVERED ROADWAYS. DRIVERS ARE
URGED TO SLOW DOWN...ALLOW PLENTY OF BREAKING DISTANCE BETWEEN
YOUR CAR AND OTHER VEHICLES.

ALSO...BE PREPARED BY HAVE AN EMERGENCY TRAVEL KIT...EXTRA
BLANKETS AND WARM CLOTHING AS YOU TRAVEL IN CASE YOUR VEHICLE HAS
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR GETS STUCK.
Special weather statement, Dec 15, 3:56 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
356 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

NYZ010>012-085-152300-
NORTHERN ERIE-GENESEE-WYOMING-SOUTHERN ERIE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUFFALO...BATAVIA...WARSAW...
ORCHARD PARK...SPRINGVILLE
356 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

...LAKE EFFECT BAND WILL BRING A BRIEF PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW TO THE
BUFFALO METRO AREA...

A LAKE EFFECT BAND EXTENDING FROM LAKE ERIE BEACH INTO HAMBURG WILL
LIFT NORTHWARD INTO DOWNTOWN BUFFALO BETWEEN 400 PM AND 500 PM AND
THEN THE BAND WILL GRADUALLY DROP SOUTHWARD AROUND SUNSET. THE
BAND WILL EXTEND INLAND INTO WESTERN PORTIONS OF WYOMING COUNTY
AND SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF GENESEE COUNTY AS WELL. THIS WILL
BRING A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW TO MOST OF THE BUFFALO METRO
AREA...INCLUDING THE SOUTH TOWNS...DOWNTOWN BUFFALO AND POSSIBLY
INTO TONAWANDA AND WILLIAMSVILLE. EXPECT SNOWFALL RATES OF ONE TO
TWO INCHES AN HOUR WITH THIS LAKE EFFECT BAND. AGAIN...EXPECT THE
BAND WILL QUICKLY DROP SOUTHWARD BACK INTO THE SOUTH TOWNS AND
BOSTON HILLS AFTER SUNSET. MOTORISTS SHOULD MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO
AVOID TRAVEL IN HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW SINCE ROAD CONDITIONS CAN
DETERIORATE RAPIDLY.

APFFEL
Special weather statement, Dec 15, 3:58 PM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
358 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

NYZ010>012-085-152315-
NORTHERN ERIE-GENESEE-WYOMING-SOUTHERN ERIE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUFFALO...BATAVIA...WARSAW...
ORCHARD PARK...SPRINGVILLE
358 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

...LAKE EFFECT BAND WILL BRING A BRIEF PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW TO THE
BUFFALO METRO AREA...

A LAKE EFFECT BAND EXTENDING FROM LAKE ERIE BEACH INTO HAMBURG WILL
LIFT NORTHWARD INTO DOWNTOWN BUFFALO BETWEEN 400 PM AND 500 PM AND
THEN THE BAND WILL GRADUALLY DROP SOUTHWARD AROUND SUNSET. THE
BAND WILL EXTEND INLAND INTO WESTERN PORTIONS OF WYOMING COUNTY
AND SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF GENESEE COUNTY AS WELL. THIS WILL
BRING A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW TO MOST OF THE BUFFALO METRO
AREA...INCLUDING THE SOUTH TOWNS...DOWNTOWN BUFFALO AND POSSIBLY
INTO TONAWANDA AND WILLIAMSVILLE. EXPECT SNOWFALL RATES OF ONE TO
TWO INCHES AN HOUR WITH THIS LAKE EFFECT BAND. AGAIN...EXPECT THE
BAND WILL QUICKLY DROP SOUTHWARD BACK INTO THE SOUTH TOWNS AND
BOSTON HILLS AFTER SUNSET. MOTORISTS SHOULD MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO
AVOID TRAVEL IN HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW SINCE ROAD CONDITIONS CAN
DETERIORATE RAPIDLY.

APFFEL
Special weather statement, Dec 15, 5:00 PM EST, 0 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
500 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

NYZ010>012-085-160000-
NORTHERN ERIE-GENESEE-WYOMING-SOUTHERN ERIE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUFFALO...BATAVIA...WARSAW...
ORCHARD PARK...SPRINGVILLE
500 PM EST SUN DEC 15 2013

...HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND WILL IMPACT THE SOUTH TOWNS AND
BOSTON HILLS THROUGH 700 PM...

A 15 MILE WIDE BAND OF HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL BE LOCATED JUST
SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN BUFFALO TO HAMBURG...EXTENDING INLAND TO
ALDEN...ATTICA...AND BATAVIA THROUGH 600 PM. THIS BAND WILL
GRADUALLY SHIFT SOUTHWARD BETWEEN 600 PM AND 700 PM...FOCUSING ON
THE FAR SOUTH TOWNS...BOSTON HILLS...AND MOST OF WYOMING COUNTY.
EXPECT HEAVY SNOWFALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES AN HOUR IN THIS
LAKE EFFECT BAND...REDUCING VISIBILITY BELOW A QUARTER MILE. THIS
WILL ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT TRAVEL ON INTERSTATE 90 BETWEEN
LAKE ERIE BEACH AND WEST SENECA. EXPECT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TRAVEL
CONDITIONS IN THIS BAND. TRAVEL THROUGH THIS BAND SHOULD BE AVOIDED
OR DELAYED.

APFFEL

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Lake-Effect Snow, Chautauqua

When
December 15, 5:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where
Chautauqua forecast zone
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
42.303, -79.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Cattaraugus

When
December 15, 5:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where
Cattaraugus forecast zone
Property damage
$12,000
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
42.249, -78.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Southern Erie

When
December 15, 5:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Erie forecast zone
Property damage
$11,000
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Genesee

When
December 15, 5:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Genesee forecast zone
Property damage
$7,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.001, -78.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Wyoming

When
December 15, 5:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM 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)

Lake-Effect Snow, Oswego

When
December 15, 8:00 PM EST to December 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where
Oswego forecast zone
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.464, -76.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Lewis

When
December 15, 10:30 PM EST to December 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where
Lewis forecast zone
Property damage
$13,000
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
43.785, -75.449 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Northern Cayuga

When
December 15, 11:00 PM EST to December 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Northern Cayuga forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
43.010, -76.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Wayne

When
December 15, 11:00 PM EST to December 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Property damage
$23,000
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
43.066, -76.978 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Lake-Effect Snow
Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 2013

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: 490890, 490892, 490893, 490895, 490897, 490898, 490900, 490901, 490902.