Dangerous Heat in the Central and Eastern U.S.; Severe Thunderstorms in the Great Lakes

Thunderstorms with strong wind gusts and hail will be possible today from Michigan into the Lower Great Lakes region. A significant and dangerous heat wave will expand from the Central U.S. into the Eastern U.S this weekend through much of next week. Numerous daily record highs and warm lows are likely. Read More >

Western New York Weather History

JANUARY 18

1965

More than two feet of snow was dumped in a narrow zone off Lake Erie extending inland from North Tonawanda to Lockport from midnight to 7am. Only 1.2 inches of snow was recorded at the Buffalo Airport.

1986

Temperatures rose into the 50s on the 18th and 19th rapidly melting a snowpack that contained three to four inches of water. Some type of flooding occurred on most western New York streams and creeks with the most significant being at the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek at Sunset Bay. The warm air passing over the snowpack resulted in dense fog. Buffalo Airport was virtually shut down. Though technically open, no planes could take off or land in the dense fog.

1992

17^th-18^th…A northwest flow of arctic air across the relatively warm waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario produced lake effect snow squalls to the lee of the lakes. Gusty winds combined with the snow to cause blowing and drifting creating hazardous road conditions in the squall areas. Numerous auto accidents were reported including one involving three school buses carrying 150 handicapped students. Specific snow reports included: 2 feet - Northeast Oswego, 12 inches -Wolcott and 6 inches - Sinclairville and New Albion.

1996

Rapid snowmelt and heavy rainfall combined with warm temperatures to produce a major ice jam on the Buffalo Creek in West Seneca. Over three feet of water and ice covered some sections of Clinton and Transit Roads. Evacuations occurred and several roads were closed due to the flood waters in West Seneca and Elma. The flood waters washed out an entire strawberry farm. Another ice jam on the Cazenovia Creek in Buffalo and West Seneca resulted in some evacuations and several roads were closed. Damage was limited however, since most of the flood waters and ice spilled into Cazenovia Park.

2002

17TH-18TH...Low pressure moved across Ontario and Quebec. The cold air behind the system produced lake effect snows over the eastern Lake Ontario region. The lake effect consolidated into a single band during the evening of the 17th and stalled over Jefferson county through the morning of the 18th. The single band dropped slowly south across the region during the afternoon and settled across Oswego county for several hours during the evening before shutting down shortly after midnight. Snowfall totals were over a foot across much of Lewis, southern Jefferson and northern Oswego counties with 8-10 inches around Watertown and 4-8" over southern Oswego county.