New York, 2013

Lake-Effect Snow in New York, December 31, 2013

December 31, 2013 · NWS BUF · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

This effect event started in the lingering hours of 2013 and carried over into the new year of 2014 although the majority of the snow fell on the 31st of December. Off Lake Erie, a cold westerly flow aligned over the lake waters and produced multi banded lake effect snow across the northern Southern Tier and into portions of Ski Country east of Lake Erie.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$57,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

This effect event started in the lingering hours of 2013 and carried over into the new year of 2014 although the majority of the snow fell on the 31st of December. Off Lake Erie, a cold westerly flow aligned over the lake waters and produced multi banded lake effect snow across the northern Southern Tier and into portions of Ski Country east of Lake Erie. Snowfall rates of one inch per hour occurred during the evening hours with the snow diminishing by the early daylight hours of the first.|Off Lake Ontario, a band of snow brought brief periods of blizzard-like conditions across the Tug High and into southern Lewis County. The heaviest snow fell during New Years Eve evening with snow winding down during the morning of the first. |Overall snow totals for this event were moderate. Off Lake Erie specific snowfall totals included: 23 inches at Perrysburg, 18 inches at Gowanda, 15 inches at Colden, 14 inches at Springville, 12 inches at Glenwood and Ripley, and 11 inches at Arcade. Off Lake Ontario, the reported snow totals included: 14 inches at Highmarket, 13 inches at Glenfield and 10 inches at Altmar.

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 31, 10:21 AM EST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 31, 10:21 AM EST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 31, 5:20 AM EST, 6 hours 40 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 31, 7:00 AM EST, 5 hours before
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Special weather statement, Dec 31, 8:49 AM EST, 3 hours 11 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Dec 31, 11:17 AM EST, 43 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Lake-Effect Snow, Chautauqua

When
December 31, 12:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where
Chautauqua forecast zone
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
42.303, -79.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Cattaraugus

When
December 31, 12:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where
Cattaraugus forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
42.249, -78.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Oswego

When
December 31, 3:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where
Oswego forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.464, -76.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Lewis

When
December 31, 3:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where
Lewis forecast zone
Property damage
$14,000
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
43.785, -75.449 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Southern Erie

When
December 31, 6:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where
Southern Erie forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 490955, 490956, 490953, 490957, 490958.