Unsettled Weather Continuing over the Western and Eastern U.S. into Mid Week

Two storm systems, one over the Desert Southwest, and one over the Ohio Valley, will continue to bring unsettled weather and cooler temperatures into the middle of the week. Moderate to heavy rainfall, along with the potential for flash flooding, is forecast from the Ohio Valley to the East Coast. Moderate to locally heavy rainfall is expected over the Northern Rockies, Great Basin and Southwest. Read More >

Western New York Weather History

FEBRUARY 17

1976

Heavy rains caused ice jams and swollen rivers and creeks overflowed their banks. Cattaraugus creek was 12 feet above normal in Springville. Hundreds of residents had to evacuate their homes in sunset Bay. The Genesee River near Portageville flowed over the flatlands. All major rivers and streams rose to near or above flood level. Throughout Erie, Chautauqua, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Steuben, Chemung, and Cattaraugus counties flood damage was reported.

1984

Temperatures averaged over 21.5 degrees above normal for the week. A high temperature of 61 degrees at Buffalo on the 13th broke the
record for the maximum temperature on that date (the old record of 54 degrees was set in 1884 and 1937). The unusually warm temperatures caused flooding and ice jams on area streams and rivers. In the Buffalo area, ice jams occurred along Cazenovia, Buffalo, Cayuga, Ellicott, Cattaraugus, and Tonawanda creeks. Along Cazenovia creek, hundreds of basements in south Buffalo were filled with a foot or more of water. An ice jam was broken up by a construction boom in the town of West Seneca. At Sunset Bay, at the mouth of Cattaraugus creek, residents were evacuated from their homes. Along Ellicott creek, Aero drive was completely under water. The combination of warm moist air and melting snow produced dense fog on the 11th and 14th resulting in hazardous driving conditions and closing of the Buffalo Airport.

1993

17^th-18^th…Arctic air crossing the warm and open waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario produced lake effect snow squalls. Reported snowfalls off Lake Erie included: 17 inches at Perrysburg; 10 inches at Springville and Cattaraugus; 8 inches at Boston and Colden; and 6 inches at Sherman. To the east of Lake Ontario, snowfalls of 8 to 12 inches fell over parts of Oswego county. In one three hour period, nearly a foot of snow fell in the squalls. There was even some thunder and lightning reported.

2006

Low pressure deepened as it tracked northeast into southern Ontario. The strong winds associated with the low downed trees and power lines throughout western New York and the north country. Damage from falling trees to buildings and automobiles was extensive. Over 150,000 were left without power during the peak of the storm. The strong winds blew over tractor trailer trucks in Macedon, Lyons and Palmyra. In Lewis County, six tractor trailers were blown over resulting in the shut-down of I-81 for several hours. The majority of school districts cancelled classes for the day. In Jefferson county, eight foot storm surges on the St. Lawrence River damaged docks and boathouses and flooded streets in Cape Vincent, Clayton and Alexandria Bay. In Gorham, a tree fell onto a schoolbus. Neither the driver or any of the dozen elementary school students on the bus were injured. In Irondequoit, a 52-year old woman was killed instantly when a tree fell on the car she was driving. Peak gusts recorded during the storm included: 81 mph at Lowville; 77 mph at Rochester; 75 mph at Fulton; 64 mph at Fairport; 62 mph at Watertown and Lockport; 61 mph at Brighton and Elma; and 60 mph at Hamburg.