Winter Storm in New York, January 12 to 13, 2018

Name: Winter Storm in New York, January 12 to 13, 2018
Start: 2018-01-12T14:00
End: 2018-01-13T11:00
Location: New York

January 12 to 13, 2018 · NWS BUF · 17 events in 17 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 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: $450,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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 developing winter storm brought first a wintry mix of precipitation during the evening of the 12th and then heavy snow through the morning of the 13th. Rain changed to a mix of freezing rain and snow during the evening. Ice accumulations up to a tenth of an inch were reported along the lake shore counties. Once the precipitation changed to snow, the heavy snow fell at one to two inches an hour during the overnight hours. Travel was difficult especially on untreated roads as the snow covered the ice below. Winds gusting to 35 mph at times caused areas of blowing and drifting snow. Specific snowfall reports included: 17 inches at Minetto; 16 inches at Penfield; 15 inches at Webster and Fairport; 14 inches at Watertown, Pulaski, Oswego, Walworth, Marion, East Bloomfield and Canandaigua and Irondequoit; 13 inches at Perrsyburg, Port Bay, Palmyra, Rochester, Croghan and Osceola; 12 inches at Alfred and Brockport; 11 inches at Conquest, Wyoming, Lima and LeRoy; 10 inches at Eden, Stafford and East Aurora; 9 inches at Holley, Silver Springs and Portageville; 8 inches at Medina and Attica; and 7 inches at Lockport.

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 Jan 12, 12:58 PM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 12, 12:58 PM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 12, 5:31 AM EST, 8 hours 29 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
531 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2018

NYZ002>008-011>014-131045-
Orleans-Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson-Lewis-Genesee-
Wyoming-Livingston-Ontario-
531 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2018

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM
EST SATURDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north
central New York.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.
   Winter Storm Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Winter Storm Warning.

.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

NYZ001-010-019>021-085-131045-
Niagara-Northern Erie-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus-Allegany-Southern Erie-
531 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2018

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM
EST SATURDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western New York.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.
   Winter Storm Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Winter Storm Warning.

.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-SLZ022-024-131045-
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-
531 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the New York waters of Lake
Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Saint Lawrence River.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

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

Local storm report, Jan 12, 8:27 AM EST, 5 hours 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
827 AM EST FRI JAN 12 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0702 AM     FLOOD            1 W FREWSBURG           42.06N  79.18W
01/12/2018                   CHAUTAUQUA         NY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            RT 62 CLOSED NORTH AND SOUTH DUE TO FLOODING.

0745 AM     FLOOD            4 SE HINSDALE           42.11N  78.34W
01/12/2018                   CATTARAUGUS        NY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CREEK ROAD CLOSED DUE TO WATER OVER ROAD.

0745 AM     FLOOD            1 SW FRANKLINVILLE      42.33N  78.47W
01/12/2018                   CATTARAUGUS        NY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            RT 98 CLOSED DUE TO WATER OVER ROAD.

0745 AM     FLOOD            CUBA                    42.22N  78.28W
01/12/2018                   ALLEGANY           NY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            RT 446 CLOSED IN CUBA DUE TO WATER OVER ROAD.

0800 AM     FLOOD            LOWVILLE                43.79N  75.49W
01/12/2018                   LEWIS              NY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            RT 12 CLOSED IN LOWVILLE DUE TO WATER AND MUD FLOWING
            OVER ROAD.

&&

EVENT NUMBER BUF1800065
EVENT NUMBER BUF1800066
EVENT NUMBER BUF1800067
EVENT NUMBER BUF1800068
EVENT NUMBER BUF1800069

DPK

Local storm report, Jan 12, 10:22 AM EST, 3 hours 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1022 AM EST FRI JAN 12 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0920 AM     FLOOD            BUFFALO                 42.89N  78.86W
01/12/2018                   ERIE               NY   SOCIAL MEDIA

            BUFFALO MAYOR BROWN REPORTS ABOUT 100 HOMES IN SOUTH
            BUFFALO ARE EXPERIENCING FLOODING.

&&

EVENT NUMBER BUF1800070

DPK

Local storm report, Jan 12, 10:31 AM EST, 3 hours 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1031 AM EST FRI JAN 12 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1029 AM     FLOOD            1 SSW CHAFFEE           42.55N  78.47W
01/12/2018                   ERIE               NY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            GENESEE RD EAST OF ROUTE 16 FLOODED NEAR COUNTY LINE.

&&

EVENT NUMBER BUF1800071

SMITH

Local storm report, Jan 12, 11:04 AM EST, 2 hours 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1104 AM EST FRI JAN 12 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 AM     FLOOD            2 NW ELLISBURG          43.76N  76.16W
01/12/2018                   JEFFERSON          NY   BROADCAST MEDIA

            ICE JAM CAUSING FLOODING OF ROUTES 3 AND 193 OVER SANDY
            CREEK. ICE CHUNKS ON ROAD.

&&

EVENT NUMBER BUF1800072

DPK

Special weather statement, Jan 12, 11:40 AM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1140 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2018

NYZ001>008-010>014-019>021-085-122300-
Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson-
Lewis-Northern Erie-Genesee-Wyoming-Livingston-Ontario-Chautauqua-
Cattaraugus-Allegany-Southern Erie-
Including the cities of Niagara Falls, Medina, Rochester, Newark,
Fair Haven, Oswego, Watertown, Lowville, Buffalo, Batavia,
Warsaw, Geneseo, Canandaigua, Jamestown, Olean, Wellsville,
Orchard Park, and Springville
1140 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2018

...Flash Freeze expected this afternoon and evening...

Temperatures will rapidly fall below freezing across the region
this afternoon and evening. Widespread rain across the region will
transition to freezing rain and sleet this afternoon as
temperatures plummet. Much of the salt on area roadways has
likely been washed off given the amount of rain over the last 24
hours. Therefore, as temperatures dive below freezing, bridges and
overpasses will likely ice up first, followed by main roadways,
sidewalks and parking lots. Water will also begin to freeze up in
areas that have experienced flooding from the rainfall and
snowmelt today. Please use extra caution for the evening commute
as roadways will become very slick, and adjust travel plans
accordingly.

Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing by:

1 to 3 pm for Western NY including Buffalo, Niagara Falls,
Jamestown.

3 to 6 pm for the Genesee Valley, Northern Finger Lakes, and North
Country, including Rochester, Dansville, Watertown, Oswego,
Lowville.

Church

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Niagara

When: January 12, 2:00 PM EST to January 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Niagara forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 43.173, -78.691 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Erie

When: January 12, 2:00 PM EST to January 13, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Erie forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Chautauqua

When: January 12, 2:00 PM EST to January 13, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Chautauqua forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 42.303, -79.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cattaraugus

When: January 12, 2:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Cattaraugus forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.249, -78.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Allegany

When: January 12, 2:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Allegany forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.257, -78.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Erie

When: January 12, 2:00 PM EST to January 13, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Erie forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Orleans

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Orleans forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.251, -78.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Monroe

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 43.165, -77.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wayne

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 43.066, -76.978 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Cayuga

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Cayuga forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 43.010, -76.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Oswego

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Oswego forecast zone
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 43.464, -76.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jefferson

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.999, -76.052 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lewis

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Lewis forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.785, -75.449 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Genesee

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Genesee forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 43.001, -78.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wyoming

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.702, -78.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Livingston

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 42.728, -77.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ontario

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Ontario forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 42.853, -77.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New York in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in New York, January 2018

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: 737808, 737809, 737810, 737812, 737814, 737816, 737819, 737821, 737823, 737825, 737827, 737829, 737830, 737831, 737832, 737833, 737834.