Weather History for December 1

DECEMBER 1

1979 

A lake-effect snow storm from November 30th through December 1st dumped two to three feet of snow on the south towns from the 29th to the 30th then moved northward into metropolitan Buffalo. At the Buffalo Airport, 20.1 inches of snow was measured from 7am on the 30th to 7am on the 1st. This was the second greatest 24 hour snowfall on record. Before the onset of the storm only 0.1 of an inch had been recorded for the season. The heavy snow stranded hundreds of motorists and forced the town of Lancaster to declare a State of Emergency. The weight of the snow collapsed part of a roof on a large building in that town. Areas to the north of Buffalo received very little snow from the storm.

1985 

Strong winds on the 1st and 2nd produced extensive damage along the Lake Erie shoreline. A peak gust of 66 mph on the 2nd helped raise the eastern end of the lake to 12 feet above low water datum. This was the highest level ever recorded at Buffalo. The lake level had been high previously aided by record precipitation during November, the month before. The bulk of damage occurred in Erie county, but at least three homes were destroyed in Chautauqua county. The worst damage was in the Hoover Beach and Woodlawn areas. The Port of Buffalo, its marinas, and Route 5 in
Hamburg also suffered considerable damage. Preliminary damage estimates were as follows: $1.3 million damage to private property; 166 homes and businesses with minor to moderate damage; 12 homes completely destroyed; 14 homes with major damage; $1 million damage at NFTA waterfront facilities; and $400,000 damage at Lasalle Park.

1996

Strong winds accompanied the passage of a cold front during the afternoon hours. The high winds downed trees and power lines and damaged buildings across the Niagara Frontier. In Niagara Falls, the winds toppled a 60-foot Christmas tree and display. In Wilson, four power poles were knocked down. In Clymer, the winds blew the windows out of a home, blew off the door of a garage, and downed a fence. At the Buffalo Airport, a peak winds of 50 knots was recorded. The cold front itself was accompanied by severe thunderstorms in Niagara Erie, Genesee, and Orleans counties.

2002

1ST-2ND...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.

2006

Low pressure over the Ohio Valley moved northeast and brought a strong cold front to the region. The thunderstorms that accompanied the cold front produced damaging winds which downed trees and power lines in Busti and Hinsdale in the southern tier and in Port Byron and Watson in the north central portions of the region. The west to southwest winds following the cold front increased to 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. The strong winds downed trees and power lines. Between fifty and seventy-five thousand customers were without power across the region. In Lockport, the roof blew off of the Niagara County Parks and Recreation Office. Falling trees damaged homes in Salamanca, Niagara Falls, Cheektowaga, and Williamsville. Along the Lake Erie Shore, the water levels at the eastern end of the lake fell several feet ahead of the storm, then quickly surged as the winds shifted with the passage of the cold front. The lake level rose over ten-and-a-half feet in a matter of hours, peaking at 9.93 feet at the lake level gage at Buffalo. The high winds and waves made for treacherous driving conditions along the Lake Erie shore roads and resulted in minor flooding along the Niagara River. Specific high wind gusts recorded by ASOS and Schoolnet sites included: 69 mph at Buffalo (downtown); 67 mph at Buffalo (Airport); 65 mph at Hamburg; 62 mph at Lackawanna; 59 mph at Alfred; 58 mph at Elma; 55 mph at Watertown Airport; 52 mph at Rochester Airport; and 50 mph at Fulton Airport.