The Friday the 13th snow storm

Needless to say, lake effect snow is an incredible weather phenomenon. Early season lake effect snow is not uncommon in October. Typically warm lake waters between 50-60 degrees will produce lake effect rain rather than snow this time of year.

However, a bitter cold Arctic flow ushered in air that is more typical for late November or early December. This generated tremendous amounts of vertical lift and instability over lakes Erie and Ontario. Lake effect snow developed in the bitterly cold southwest flow. Due to a persistent southwest flow Buffalo received heavy snow and thunder snow from Lake Erie.

Estimates ranged from 10-30” in a 25 mile stretch from Orchard Park to Niagara Falls. Area trees still had leaves in these areas. This heavy, sloppy snow had extremely high water content (estimates of 2-3” liquid). This storm will forever be remembered as “The Friday the thirteenth Snow Storm in Buffalo”, or 'Arborgedden'.