Weather History for January 17

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Western New York Weather History

JANUARY 17

1952

Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening occurred throughout western New York causing some lightning damage and local flooding. Total precipitation for the day was 0.59 inches at the Buffalo airport. A record high temperature of 56 degrees was reached at 8pm.

1994

Low pressure moved from the Upper Great Lakes east to the Canadian maritimes. Snow from the system was enhanced by a southwest flow over Lake Ontario. Snowfall reports ranged from 10" to 14". A northwest flow of arctic air after the passage of the low resulted in lake effect squalls which dumped an additional two to three feet of snow.

1997

16TH-18TH…Lake effect snows dropped between six and twelve inches of snow in intense bands off Lake Erie. The snows combined with strong winds to produce hazardous conditions. The New York State Thruway was closed between Henrietta and Depew for a good portion of the 17th. Numerous auto accidents, several fatal, were blamed on the snow and frequent whiteouts. Specific amounts included: Orchard Park and Dunkirk 12"; Silver Creek 11"; Perrysburg 8"; and Arcade and Batavia 6".

16TH-19TH…Lake effect snows dropped up to two feet of snow downwind of Lake Ontario. Highest amounts were along the immediate Oswego county shore. Specific reports included: Oswego 24"; Adams and Montague 18"; Fulton 17"; and Watertown 10".

2005

A northeast flow of cold air produced lake effect snows then backed to northwest from Sunday afternoon (16th) through Monday afternoon (17th). A strong band of snow developed offshore on Lake Ontario and then moved onshore as the winds backed. Heavy snow fell over Niagara, Orleans, and Monroe counties Sunday night. Some of this activity even reached south across Buffalo's northern suburbs in Erie county. Bands of moderate to heavy snow continued Monday from eastern Niagara to Wayne counties. Snowfall reports included: Gasport 24"; Lockport 20"; Lyndonville and Walworth 18"; Holley 14"; and Rochester metro 10-14". Off Lake Erie, several narrow bands of heavy snow developed and focused on the ridges of northern Chautauqua and northwest Cattaraugus counties. Reports there included: Perrysburg 21"; Cassadaga 13"; and Frewsburg and Franklinville 7".

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