Rochester, N.Y. - In our 50 years on the air at Channel 13, the power of mother nature left its mark on the Rochester area multiple times.
We're looking back at the biggest storms that hit our area since then-WOKR signed on the air in 1962.
The Blizzard Of '66
When the Blizzard Of '66 hit the Rochester area, 20 inches of snow were already on the ground. By the time the storm was over, there were four feet of snow on the ground, in just nine days. Snow drifts from the storm, reached six feet and higher in some parts of our area.
Hurricane Agnes
In June 1972, Rochester felt the impact of Hurricane Agnes.
"Waves are 10-12 feet high on Lake Ontario," longtime Channel 13 anchor Dick Burt reported from along the shoreline, as he fought to hold his ground in high winds.
Sandbagging operations kept the rising waters of the Genesee River under control.
The Southern Tier was hit especially hard by Agnes. The Genesee River came within just five feet of the top of the Mount Morris Dam.
Thousands were forced to evacuate from their homes due to flooding and concerns about river levels.
The Blizzard Of '77
"Once again, the New York State Thruway was closed," Channel 13's Allan Harris reported, while standing in the middle of the highway during the Blizzard Of '77.
Wind was the main issue for people outside, rather than the snow. Gusts as high as 75 miles an hour led to wind chill factors of -60 degrees, and snow drifts that were impossible to control.
The Ice Storm Of '91
After a 14 year break from a major storm, the one storm many Rochesterians will never forget is the Ice Storm Of '91.
"I can tell you right now some people aren't going to have electricity for two weeks," one out-of-town utility repairman warned. It turned out, he was right.
The inch of freezing rain that fell in the early morning hours in March 1991 knocked out power to 300,000 people for several days.
The Labor Day Storm Of '98
Rochester saw some of its strongest winds in its history on Labor Day in 1998.
Wind gusts of 89 miles an hour snapped trees and power lines.
A microburst was to blame for damage that stretched from Rochester to Syracuse.
The Blizzard Of '99
It was non-stop shoveling for people in the Rochester area in March of 1999.
When the Blizzard Of '99 was over, 40 inches of snow were on the ground in just three days. The accumulation over that short of a period, set another record in Rochester.
The Ice Storm Of '03
In April 2003, another ice storm hit the Rochester area, leaving snapped trees and power lines. At its peak, 75,000 people lost power.
