NY State Lake Effect Snowstorm

[HAltschule]

As of this writing (12pm Sunday), locales East of Lake Ontario are in a huge Lake Effect snow band that contains heavy snow with thunder and lightning. The band is not moving and producing some tremendous snowfall amounts. 26" of snow has fallen between 12am-7am. Unbelievable!! Total Snowfall amounts are expected to exceed 2-3 Feet.

Doppler Radar Here: http://weather.cod.edu/analysis/paulradar.pl?TYX

 

[Brian Russ]

Hello to all of you guys. Although I do visit here and read topics often
this is my first post. I'm more of a weather hobbyist with no real
education in the field,but I do try to learn what I can about severe weather.
Because of my lack of know, I usually prefer to stay outta the way
during discussions. ;-)

I saw this post and wanted to reply because I live in the area where that
lake effect band is affecting. I live in the little town of Mexico, NY located
in Oswego county,on the southeast most corner of the lake.

It started snowing around 10:30 last night and got intense at times.
The band was consolidated,but didn't quite have the punch. Overnight
as the colder air deepened,it picked up in intensity and when I woke up
at around 9:00 AM, it was a total whiteout and I could barely
see the neighbors houses. I looked at the radar and the band was very
defined and solid. Reports have been between 2-3 inches per hour.
I personally haven't witnessed thunder,but I have seen it around here
before. The state police have closed parts of I81 between Syracuse
and Watertown,and there is currently a travel advisory for Oswego
county.

The band is expected to drop south again over us this evening and
the NWS forecast is calling for another 11- 17 inches for our area tonight.
It is forecast to intensify overnight again,and may be at it's strongest yet.
They have extended the Lake Effect Snow Warning another 6 hours
to 1 PM Monday.

I will try and get some pictures and post them.

 

[Brian Russ]

here are some storm totals, a few hours late but to give you an idea.

...OSWEGO COUNTY...

MEXICO 18.0 1110 AM 1/20 HEAVY SNOW
WEST MONROE 9.0 951 AM 1/20 LIGHT SNOW
HANNIBAL 23.0 800 AM 1/20 CLOUDY
HANNIBAL 18.0 605 AM 1/20
OSWEGO 14.0 908 AM 1/20 HEAVY SNOW
MINETTO 10.5 832 AM 1/20 HEAVY SNOW


locally more has fallen in areas just west of here between Oswego
Fulton and Fair Haven.

After getting 12 feet in one week last February, I think I could handle
this much. It's certainly not fun to drive in though.

 

[Brian Russ]

It's now 11:22 and the snow band that had drifted south towards Syracuse
is now showing signs of a northward track. The radar continues to show
strong returns and this band has been dropping snow at a rate of 2-5 inches
per hour in the most intense areas. We are still looking at another 2 feet
tonight still and probably another 6-8 if it hangs around a little longer
Monday morning like the models are apparently showing.

No one should be out traveling in this stuff around here tonight. By sunrise
the entire county may be under a state of emergency....but I hope not!!!

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1112 PM EST SUN JAN 20 2008

NYZ005-006-210715-
NORTHERN CAYUGA-OSWEGO-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FAIR HAVEN...OSWEGO
1112 PM EST SUN JAN 20 2008

A FIFTEEN MILE WIDE BAND OF INTENSE LAKE EFFECT SNOW STREAMING IN
OFF OF LAKE ONTARIO WILL SLOWLY LIFT NORTHWARD THROUGH 2 AM. THE
SNOW WILL FALL AT A RATE OF 2 TO 4 INCHES PER HOUR WITHIN THE
HEAVIEST PORTION OF THIS BAND. THE MOST INTENSE LAKE SNOWS WILL
IMPACT THE FULTON...MINETTO...PALERMO AND OSWEGO AREAS.

TRAVEL ACROSS SOUTHERN OSWEGO COUNTY WILL BE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT...IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. MOST IF
NOT ALL OF INTERSTATE 81 IN OSWEGO COUNTY HAS BEEN CLOSED.
PORTIONS OF ROUTE 104 BETWEEN MEXICO AND WILLIAMSTOWN HAVE BEEN
CLOSED.

 

[HAltschule]

As of this morning, new snow totals include:

Fulton, NY: 37"
Mexico, NY: 36"

Still heavy snow pounding the are right now too!!

 

[Terry Kern]

Mexico I recall had well over 100" of snow during that lake effect storm last February I believe it was. What's it like living in those snowbelt areas? I've always been curious and contemplated spending a month or two in an area that consistently get's lake effect snow. Areas like the UP of Michigan and the east side of Lake Ontario where Mexico is located come to mind.

 

[Mike Kovalchick]

"I've always been curious and contemplated spending a month or two in an area that consistently get's lake effect snow. Areas like the UP of Michigan and the east side of Lake Ontario where Mexico is located come to mind."

I use to live in the Northern Michigan snowbelt and now have a second home there and have spent considerable amount of time in the UP during the Winter months.

I recall nearly every single morning for weeks on end..getting up and going outside in the dark and turning on the snowblower. It always seemed to have either snowed during the night, had snow drift in over the driveway or just still have left over snow from previous dumps. Since the snowfall is so frequent..it always has that pretty/fresh look to it. The strangest part is actually leaving or entering the snowbelt..as the changes in sky conditions are extremely dramatic...similar to what you see driving in mountainous areas. Driving conditions are crappy...in particular at night. It is not "if" you will end up in the ditch..rather "when" and "how often". I recall the time I was driving and suddenly a caravan of snowmobiliers were coming towards me from the other direction. I eased over more to my side of the road and realized that I was actually on the shoulder. The soft snow had hidden a ditch and within a few seconds..I was buried upto the door handle. Within a couple of minutes, a vehicle stopped to help. Then a few more. A crowd of friendly people developed. Within ten minutes-there was 20 vehicles stopped..tow ropes came out..and presto..I was on my way! Life in the snowbelt....
Couple of pics below from last weekend.