Wikipedia

November 2022 Great Lakes winter storm

In November 2022, a severe lake-effect winter storm impacted parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York, causing high accumulations of snow across the Great Lakes region, including snowfall accumulations upwards of 50 in (130 cm) in several locations. In Hamburg, New York, 81.2 in (206 cm) fell, while Orchard Park, New York recorded 80 in (200 cm) of snow. At least four fatalities occurred, with three in New York and one in Indiana, and several highways closed after heavy snowfall. A travel ban was also issued for New York by governor Kathy Hochul, and thundersnow occurred across areas impacted by the winter storm.

November 2022 Great Lakes winter storm
Satellite image of the storm on November 18
TypeLake-effect snow
Winter storm
FormedNovember 17, 2022
DissipatedNovember 20, 2022
Maximum snowfall
or ice accretion		81.2 in (206 cm) at Hamburg, New York[1]
Fatalities4[3][4]
Damage>$30.5 million (2022 USD)[2]
Power outages8,000
Areas affectedGreat Lakes region (especially the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area)

Meteorological history

The storm started on November 16, 2022, at around 18:00 UTC with snowfall being recorded just south of Buffalo, New York.[5] Hamburg recorded 34 inches (86 cm) of snow by 8AM EST on November 18.[6] By 2:30pm, that amount increased to 37 inches (94 cm), with 42.3 inches (107 cm) in Orchard Park.[1] In Buffalo, from 8–9 PM, 3.1 inches (7.9 cm) fell.[7] Over 6,000 customers lost power.[8] The same lake effect storm also hammered parts of Ohio with up to 17.2 inches (44 cm) of snow in 12 hours.[9] Snow was amplified partially due to very warm Lake Erie temperatures of 52 °F (11 °C).[10]

Snow and ice totals

observed snow totals from high affected snow areas
State Town Amount
New York Hamburg 81.2 inches (206 cm)
New York Orchard Park 80 inches (200 cm)
New York Natural Bridge 70.9 inches (180 cm)
New York Blasdell 65 inches (170 cm)
New York Watertown 57.4 inches (146 cm)
Sources:[11][12]

Preparations

 
November 16–21, 2022 snowfall totals in New York

Winter weather advisories were in place for six states: Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin.[13] New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for 11 counties.[14] The Buffalo Bills–Cleveland Browns game was moved to Detroit.[15] Numerous flights were cancelled at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.[16] The Buffalo Skyway was closed temporarily, and the New York Thruway was closed west of Exit 46 on the afternoon of November 17.[17] Multiple Amtrak stations such as Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Depew,[18] and Erie County suspended all bus service.[19]

Impact

 
30.2 inches (77 cm) of snowfall at the National Weather Service Buffalo, New York on the morning of November 19, 2022

Natural Bridge, New York received 70.9 inches (180 cm) of snow.[20] A 132 mi (212 km) stretch of the New York Thruway was closed from Rochester, New York to the Pennsylvania border.[21] Interstate 90 in Pennsylvania was also closed east of the interchange with Interstate 86.[22] The full length of Interstate 290 and Interstate 990 was closed as well.[23] Further east, Interstate 81 was closed from the exit of NY-69 north to the Canada–United States border.[24] A full commercial travel ban was issued for multiple highways in New York.[25][26] Thundersnow was also recorded when the snowstorm hit, with several cars and trucks stuck in the snow.[27] At 66 inches (170 cm) in a single day, Orchard Park set a record for most snow in a single day,[28] with the total snowfall being 77 in (200 cm).[1] In Gile, Wisconsin, ending on November 18, recorded 24.5 inches (62 cm) of snow.[29] In addition, 23.3 inches (59 cm) fell in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 65 hours, including daily snowfall records on November 17 and 19.[30] It has been made November at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport as the third-snowiest November, which later become second-snowiest.[31][32] At least two deaths occurred, due to cardiac arrest after shoveling the snow.[33][34] A third person died in Hamlet, Indiana after his snowplow rolled over.[3] An estimated 8,000 customers were without power.[35] The 36.9 inches (94 cm) of snow that fell in Buffalo, New York in a period of three days made November 2022 the second-highest accumulation of snow in November there.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Millions under snow alerts as storm hits Western New York, CNN, November 18, 2022
  2. ^ Lake Effect Snow: November 16-21
  3. ^ a b "Dangerous lake-effect snow wallops northern New York state". News 4 Buffalo. 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  4. ^ Buffalo city employee dies during snow removal process, AccuWeather, November 22, 2022
  5. ^ "National Gridded Snowfall Analysis". National Weather Service. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  6. ^ The worst of what could be a historic snowstorm has started hitting western New York, CNN, November 18, 2022
  7. ^ NWS Buffalo [@NWSBUFFALO] (November 18, 2022). "The beginning at NWS Buffalo. We just measured 3.1" of snow in the past hour with this first burst of heavy lake effect snow. #nywx https://t.co/LtY8E1mS6h" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ From bad to worse: Power outages reported in Orchard Park, The Buffalo News, November 18, 2022
  9. ^ NWS: Over 17 inches of snow in 12-hour span recorded in part of Northeast Ohio, Cleveland19, November 17, 2022
  10. ^ Lake Erie's Warmth Fuels Buffalo's Potential Record Snow, Bloomberg, November 17, 2022
  11. ^ "Great Lakes snowfall totals". NWS. 19 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Today's snowfall reports". NWS. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  13. ^ Elamroussi, Aya (2022-11-19). "Western New York slammed with nearly 6 feet of snow, triggering road closures and flight cancellations the weekend before Thanksgiving". CNN. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  14. ^ Almasy, Aya Elamroussi,Steve (2022-11-18). "Drivers in western New York's Erie County still advised to stay off the roads after deadly storm dumps almost 6 feet of snow in some areas". CNN. Retrieved 2022-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "NFL moves Browns-Bills to Detroit due to storm". ESPN. 2022-11-17. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  16. ^ Elamroussi, Aya (2022-11-18). "The worst of what could be a historic snowstorm has started hitting western New York". CNN. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  17. ^ I-90 Eastbound Traffic Redirected To Due Heavy Lake Effect Snow, Erie News Now, November 18, 2022
  18. ^ Erie County hit with 3 feet of snow as Buffalo braces for 'historic' winter storm, NBC News, November 18, 2022
  19. ^ Metro Bus reinstating some service in Erie County, The Buffalo News, November 18, 2022
  20. ^ Berk, Justin (2022-11-19). "November 19 Snow Video From Buffalo And Local Record Cold". Just In Weather. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  21. ^ Donegan, Brian (2022-11-15). "'Crippling' historic storm pounds Buffalo metro area with 5 feet of snow; 2 deaths linked to snow removal". FOX Weather. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  22. ^ Winter storm closes I-90 Eastbound near New York border, YourErie, November 19, 2022
  23. ^ Travel limited on NYS Thruway, I-81 due to winter storm; Hochul declares state of emergency, Syracuse.com, November 17, 2022
  24. ^ [https://bigfrog104.com/part-of-ny-thruway-i-81-among-several-roads-closed-during-major-storm/ Part of NY Thruway & I-81 Among Several Roads Closed During Major Storm Read More: Parts NY Thruway & I-81 Among Roads Closed During Major Storm | https://bigfrog104.com/part-of-ny-thruway-i-81-among-several-roads-closed-during-major-storm/], Big Frog 104, November 17, 2022
  25. ^ "Governor Hochul Declares State of Emergency in Eleven Counties Forecast to be Impacted by Heavy Lake Effect Snowstorm This Week | Governor Kathy Hochul". www.governor.ny.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  26. ^ "Record breaking snow fall causing Erie County leaders to maintain a travel ban". WKBW 7 News Buffalo. 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  27. ^ "2 dead as dangerous "thunder snow" storm paralyzes upstate New York". CBS News. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  28. ^ Potential record snow measured in Orchard Park on Friday, 2WGRZ, November 19, 2022
  29. ^ South Shore digs out; 2 feet of snow falls near Michigan-Wisconsin border, Duluth News Tribune, November 18, 2022
  30. ^ Grand Rapids had 23.3″ of Snow in 3 Days, Woodtv, November 19, 2022
  31. ^ NWS Buffalo [@NWSBUFFALO] (November 19, 2022). "Some 4 AM snow stats for the early risers. Snow at the #Buffalo airport today (Nov. 19th) is thus far 13.9 inches. This is a new daily record for the date (Old 7.6/2014). This is also the 3rd snowiest November month on record (29.3" through 4 AM). Snowiest is 45.6"/2000" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ a b Smith, Elyse (December 1, 2022). "November 2022 ranks as one of the snowiest Novembers on record for Buffalo". WGRZ. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  33. ^ "Winter storm paralyzes parts of Buffalo, Rochester regions. Live updates, snow totals". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  34. ^ Scribner, Sareen Habeshian,Herb (2022-11-19). "Historic storm blankets part of New York in over 60 inches of snow". Axios. Retrieved 2022-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ "Buffalo Area Sees 3 Feet Of Snow, Thruway Closure, Nearly 8,000 Without Power - Videos from The Weather Channel". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
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