CNN/AP: Record October snowstorm barrels into Great Lakes, Midwest

[DeepModem Mom]

Record snowstorm barrels into Buffalo
October 13, 2006


Williamsville, New York

BUFFALO, New York (AP) -- A rare early October snowstorm left parts of the Great Lakes and Midwest blanketed with 2 feet of snow Friday morning, prompting widespread blackouts, closing schools and halting traffic.

By early Friday, 14 inches of snow had been recorded at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, with reports of 2 feet elsewhere, said Tom Paone, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The snowfall was expected to continue throughout the morning, he said.

The snow downed scores of tree limbs and toppled power lines, leaving more than 220,000 customers without electricity in western New York.

On Thursday, 8.3 inches of heavy snow set the record for the "snowiest" October day in Buffalo in the 137-year history of the weather service, said meteorologist Tom Niziol. The previous record of 6 inches was set October 31, 1917....

***

Detroit also set a record, its for the earliest measured snow. On Thursday, the city broke by one day the mark set on October 13, 1909....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/10/13/ny.snow.ap/index.html

[gasperc]

1. tell me about it

we freezing our nuts off here in Detroit

[LiberalEsto]

2. We got our first frost weeks ahead of schedule

here in the DC suburbs of Maryland.

:mad:

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Weather is effed. nt

[OhioChick]

3. Cold here, too.

I was surprised to see *@#! snow falling yesterday....:scared:

[ixion]

5. I live in FL, and am currently visiting in NE

and it's freakin' cold!!! ;(

[acmavm]

6. You live in Florida and are visiting in Nebraska? You certainly

have my sympathies. Politics in both states couldn't be any worse.

[notadmblnd]

7. you know, I was thinking of going nut gathering

you think this cold spell could will increase my chances of getting some good ones?

On edit: What? there's a walnut tree down the street

[susanna]

43. Too early for this, no doubt...

...from a fellow Detroiter.

BTW, was caught up in the traffic jam downtown after we evidently won some sort of sporting event (on the way to the Big One - Go Tigers!)...lots of horns, very happy people in general. Nice. I felt kinda warm at that point. :-)

on edit: minus a smiley face in the wrong position...

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. We had an Oct. 8 snowfall one year here in KC

It was awful. The trees all still have their leaves so the weight of the snow breaks the branches. It was a horrible nite - all I could do was sit and listen to all of the breaking and falling trees. And then the power went out. It was citywide so it was days before all the power got back on.

I really feel for those people.

[BlueInPhilly]

9. See, there's NO GLOBAL WARMING!!!

If any, there's GLOBAL COOLING! Scientists know crap! Praise be MICHELLE BACHMANN! :sarcasm:

[hadrons]

10. that Tigers/A's playoff game will be interesting .....

the only time I heard of a snow being a concern in a baseball game was the Blue Jays first ever game vs. White Sox, but you expect that in early April in Toronto

[noonwitch]

12. The league moved the game time up to 4:30, instead of 8

It's inconvenienced a lot of people who have tickets and kids in school. My coworker is convinced that it's not the weather, it's FOX's desire to be able to cash in on ratings for both games, by having the other series on at 8 alone.

I think they are just weather pussies. We've had snowy opening days before-snow in October is rare in Michigan, about as rare as the Tigers playing in the post-season. So, in a weird way, it's appropriate.

[fleabert]

11. Good old Buffalo! lived there for a bit, those snows are unbelievable!

I kinda miss it...

but I am sure if I was there I'd be bitching. We had two full-on blizzards my freshman winter in Buffalo, it was crazy. Kudos to all the folks there dealing with it- I am sure the paths to the bars are shoveled by now, enjoy it! that was my favorite part of the canceled work days, hanging out at bars hearing past snow stories from seasoned citizens...

on edit: not to sound flip- but everyone I knew there just rolled with it- those folks are tough.

[susanna]

44. Absolutely - "lake effect snow"...

...only means something to people who have actually experienced it.

[Theres-a]

13. Western New York clobbered by record snowfall

230,00 lose power

By CAROLYN THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer

October 13, 2006, 9:06 AM EDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Up to two feet of snow from an extraordinary fall storm closed roads, cut power to some 230,000 customers and left this city paralyzed as officials banned driving in the region Friday.

The snow, delivered in a fury of thunder and lightning, blanketed Buffalo and surrounding areas Thursday night and early Friday. A 105-mile stretch of the New York State Thruway from Exit 46 at Rochester to Exit 59 at Dunkirk, southwest of Buffalo, was closed Friday morning because of heavy lake-effect snow.

Full articlehttp://www.newsday.com/news/yahoo/ny-bc-ny--buffalo-snow1013oct13,0,2093908.story?coll=ny-newsaol-headlines

[devilgrrl]

14. It's Buffalo.... believe me, they're used to it.

They'll survive.

[Captain Hilts]

15. It's a good day to be in Utica. nt

[Ignacio Upton]

25. Or Syracuse

While it was freezing out last night, we were spared the snow storm.

[Captain Hilts]

31. Don't you mean 'Seer-kewz'? nt

[madrchsod]

16. unless the wind dies down before it gets over there

expect more....28-45 mile winds are blowing across lake michigan right now....

[warrens]

19. We've got pretty heavy winds in Chicago

But not as bad as predicted. At least so far.

[Amonester]

17. Hockey season's on, and the Buffalo Sabres rock!!

Game played: 3 Won: 3 Lost: 0

http://www.sabres.com/

In Detroit tonight, and back home vs. NY Rangers tomorrow. In the meantime, let's hope nobody's in too much trouble in the area.

[MrCoffee]

18. "Clobbered" is such a great word.

It's so much fun to say. Clobbered.

[midnight armadillo]

24. Even better is "clabbered"

As in, "clabbered milk." Rolls off the tongue nice.

[IntravenousDemilo]

20. Last night I saw a few snowflakes, a little flurry, and I thought,

"Welcome to winter! (ugh)" But there's no snow on the ground here in Toronto as of today.

We must have just got the edge of whatever system Buffalo got. I wonder why it is that Buffalo's winters always seem to be so much worse than ours, when we're further north and also on a Great Lake.

[fleabert]

38. I always heard it was the lake effect that does it to buffalo and not you

the way the winds go just skirts around toronto, and blows directly onto and thru Buffalo surrounding farmland. The farmland is so open the snow just settles and blows, settles and blows...

[jayctravis]

21. Thunder and lighting...and SNOW?

I cannot imagine that.

[Igel]

27. I've only seen it once.

In '82, I think it was. Eugene Oregon. The thunder sounded odd. The lightning lit up everything, being reflected and diffused by the falling snow.

[daleo]

40. I saw it once, in January circa 1989

Thunder Bay Ontario, on the shores of Lake Superior. Perhaps the lakes have something to do with this. It is a very peculiar experience.

[Iwasthere]

22. Upper 70s and blue skies in Salem oregon.

In fact we have had only a few traces of rain in the last couple of months. very long and very hot summer (we have been consistantly warmer than LA). Feels like hawaii here, palm trees are beginning to grow. Winters are unusually warm now.

[hedgehog]

23. Blue skies and 46 degrees just north of Syracuse, New York

We're in Fulton and are packing the car with a generator and a chain saw to go down and help out my folks and my husband's aunt and uncle as soon as the Thruway re-opens. Our neighbor down the road took off half an hour ago with his entire tree trimming crew in a convoy. These storms are spectacular because they are so localized. If it had been 2 degrees warmer, this would have all been rain and no one would have noticed.

[TommyO]

26. Just a little bit of spotty sleet

yesterday around 9:30pm in Eastern, PA. But it was cold last night - forgot to turn the heat on and my bedroom window was cracked open about 3/4"

[kestrel91316]

28. Gorgeous low 70s and puffy clouds here in Lost Angeles.

Nights in the mid-to-upper 40s. Doesn't get better than this.

Aren't you all jealous??

[hedgehog]

29. Not really - we make a big deal about the occasional freak

snow storm so people don't find out how great this area is about 40 weeks out of 52. Even when we're snowbound, it's not bad unless the power goes out. Last year we only really had snow from December to maybe end of January, early February. Generally the plows have all the roads cleared about an hour after the snow stops. It's a pain wearing coats and boots, but other than that it's a fair price to pay for a glorious Spring, Summer and Fall.

[Captain Hilts]

32. No, that's boring. The shift to Fall is a great time of year. nt

[Release The Hounds]

30. 16" of snow here in northern Michigan

from yesterday and today.

[gerrilea]

33. I've lived here for 23 years and this is by far the worst I've ever seen.

I know, I know that the joke is always about Buffalo getting killed with snow...most years we get alot...but last night and today was brutal...

I haven't slept in over 31 hours, too much to do just to survive for a week without power or heat...

I finally got it around 4:30 this morning and silly me drove into work because my boss called and asked if I could go in for her...problem here was after spending an hour just to drive 11 miles...when I got to work now power or phone lines or anything...then I spent the next three hours looking for a payphone...they don't make them anymore...

I finally ended up at Pep Boys Auto Chain and waited with 20 other people for them to open and buy a power generator (we bought them all out in 5 minutes)...took another hour to get home and the rest of the day setting it up and getting gas and extension cords...oh and figuring out how to hook power up to the furnace so I wouldn't freeze the next two nights...

The roads are like a video game...something out of a disaster movie...problem is...I was in it...

The power lines that were on fire or sparking and all the snow and tree limbs...AND Whole trees all over the place, especially where I was trying to drive...I'M lucky right now to be here online...using the generator...there's over 380,000 without power...this was a history making day for Buffalo...

Believe me guys...when one shovel of snow weighs over 30 pounds...it's crazy...and when your neighbors Pine Tree falls and almost hits you...but God isn't too bad...it got warm and some of the snow melted and the forecast is by Monday it might be all gone...but the power won't be on until the middle of next week...


I really am amazed at what they went through and are still going through in New Orleans...my God...we should keep praying for them...I guess we were lucky...our governor is repukilican...we don't have water now, but they say we should have it by tomorrow...

Again, here in Buffalo, people actually help each other in times of true need...almost as nice as after 9-11, when we were all the same Americans...not red or blue...total strangers helped me out more than once when I was stuck today...in fact, I got stuck 3 times and people stopped an helped...it was amazing and nice to see.

Just thought you guys would want to know the "scene" from the front lines so to speak...

Wish us all well..going to bed...

[blue neen]

35. I hope you get your electricity and heat on soon.

It sounds like it has been quite an ordeal for all of you.

Thanks for the report!

[DeepModem Mom]

37. Oh, my gosh! Thanks for this on-the-scene report...

and best of luck to you up there.

[fleabert]

39. thanks for the real life update- glad you are okay and none the worse for

wear. We have talked to everyone we know in the area and they are okay too. At least this one didn't hit during rush hour like the one a few years ago- that would have been even worse I think.

take care of yourself, and have a beer for me. I miss buffalo, believe it or not. :-)

(can you check on Pano's after it all clears up? I worry about him! (my old boss))

[gerrilea]

42. I used to work at Pano's too...what a small world

Okay, I worked there from 87-89...as a cook...go figure...he's moved to a bigger location closer to Forest Ave...seats,I think 60 people now...but what a great place...

Thanks for the support...we will survive...I offered for my elder neigbors to spend the night in warmth...but their landlord had gone to PA to buy a generator for them all...thank god...

Take care and thanks...

Gerri

[goclark]

34. Oh no! I leave for Michigan next Wednesday!

[Megahurtz]

36. Something tells me we're going to have a cold winter.

I noticed all the plants and flowers in my yard had a really quick season both Spring and Summer this year, and it looks like they're already doing their winter dieoff and dormancy.
Way earlier this year than before. And I'm in California.

[Amonester]

41. Not likely. Here comes El Niño again...

This winter will be mild, although not as much as in the last El Niño episode. Also, that's one of the reasons why Oregon's been experiencing such high temperatures, the other being the constant rise in global temperatures as a whole (especially in the Artic).

"Monthly & Seasonal Color Outlook Maps
Issued: 2006 Sep 21"
Temperature
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/multi_season/13_seasonal_outlooks/color/churchill.html

"NASA satellite data indicates El Niño has returned to the tropical Pacific Ocean, although in a relatively weak condition that may not persist and is currently much less intense than the last major El Niño episode in 1997-1998."
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/elnino_return.html

"Here you will find images and news releases based on observations of the El Niño/La Niña phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean by the U.S./French Jason satellite."
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/elnino/index.html

[krispos42]

45. Oct. 7th: 70°, clear, calm. Oct. 11th, 27°, cloudy, windy

Gotta love Minnesota. In any given year, the temperature here can swing 140° between the summer high and the winter low.