Weather History for January 23

News Headlines

Western New York Weather History

JANUARY 23

1959

The January thaw during the 21st-23rd brought on the worst flash floods in many years. The floods and an accompanying southwest gale caused damage estimated in excess of $8,000,000 across the Niagara Frontier. The largest single loss ($4,000,000) was the Michigan avenue lift bridge struck by a drifting freighter. One drowning occurred in Delaware park. High temperature recorded on the 21st was 57 degrees and 1.69 inches of rain fell.

1965

A general storm began as snow in northern sections of the Niagara Frontier and sleet and freezing rain over the Southern Tier then changed to sleet north then rain the next day. Numerous power failures occurred. Four deaths were attributed to the storm. 3.3 inches of snow and sleet fell on this date. Average winds were 22.0 mph.

1982

Freezing rain hit much of the state and eastern seaboard and in western New York caused glazed streets, sidewalks, tree limbs and power lines with ice and caused the cancellation of numerous events. Ice buildup on power lines caused power outages mostly south of Buffalo. A section of Route 5 in Dunkirk was closed for a time after a 13,000 volt power line was downed by the ice. Most of the flights at the Buffalo International Airport were canceled because of the high winds and ice. Temperatures remained nearly steady throughout the day hovering at the 10 to 11 degree mark for most of the day. The cold temperatures in combination with the high winds (averaging around 35 mph and gusting to 51mph) resulted in wind chills in the extreme cold range between minus 30 and minus 40.

1997

23RD-24TH…Warm temperatures resulted in enough melting and runoff to cause ice jams in Erie County on Muddy Creek in the Town of Evans and along Cazenovia Creek near Cazenovia Park in Buffalo. Several dozen homes were evacuated.