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Lake Storm Aphid

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Accumulation at the Buffalo Airport and NWS office

The October 2006 Buffalo storm was an unusual early-season lake effect snow storm that hit the Buffalo, New York area and other surrounding areas of the United States and Canada, from the night of Thursday October 12 through the morning of Friday October 13, 2006.[1] It was called Lake Storm "Aphid" by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo in accordance with their naming scheme of lake snow effect storms for that year, which related to insects.[2] It is also know as the October Surprise Storm, The Arborgedden Storm, and the Columbus Day Massacre, among other monikers,[3]

History

File:Stnplot 20061012.gif
US Weather Map showing the low pressure system on October 12th which was responsible for setting up the correct wind field and temperature gradient for lake effect snow off of Lake Erie.

On October 6th 2006, the first concerns of a possible Lake Effect Snow event were raised as medium and long range numerical weather models began to indicate conditions would be potentially favourable for lake effect precipitation, resulting in mixed snow-rain conditions. The long term forecast from the Buffalo office of the National Weather Service, as well as the Environment Canada discussion, both indicated possible lake effect snows, but predicted that accumulations would be minimal[4].

By October 9th 2006, however, forecasters became concerned that, given the high snow fall rates typical of snow squalls, accumulations would be possible even with temperatures above the freezing mark.[5][6]

The Buffalo NWS and associated weather offices in the U.S and Canada did not issue any special advisories or make significant mention of the possibility of a major snow fall event until early afternoon on October 11th[7]. The NWS Buffalo issued a special advisory for the possibility of lake effect snows with minor accumulations of less than 2 inches. Environment Canada followed suit issuing a special weather advisory for Canadian areas which would also be affected.

The warm front associated with the developing low pressure system brought rain and thunderstorms to much of Western New York and Southern Ontario since the early morning hours of the 11th. The quickly approaching cold front passed the Port Colborne reporting station in Ontario at 11:35 PM EST October 11th[8] and the Buffalo Airport reporting station at 12:46 AM EST October 12th. With the passage of the cold front polar continental air began to flood in behind it and by 3:30 AM EST, a lake effect squall began to form over Lake Erie in the strong westerly winds. The first lake effect rain was reported at 3:54 AM EST at the Buffalo Airport.

The morning of October 12th saw the first deep concern among forecasters that a large snow fall event was possible[9]. Indications at the time were still mainly that of a rainfall event with ice pellets and some wet snow mixed in. Towards the afternoon of the 12th, a warning was issued by the NWS buffalo for the possibility of 1 – 6 inches of wet snow. Environment Canada also released a similar warning advising the public that conditions like those found in typical winter lake effects snows were possible, although only minor accumulation was expected if any.

NWS Buffalo radar animation showing the snow squall as it streamed off of Lake Erie overnight from the 12th to the early morning hours of the 13th

The first reports of ice came in the form of small hail and ice pellets reported at the Buffalo airport at 12:14 PM[10], the temperature at the time was 5C after which it fell to 3C by 1:00 PM and 2C by 1:38 PM.[11] Then at 1:51 PM the first rain-snow mix was reported and by 2:09 PM the rain had changed over entirely to snow with the temperature dropping to 1C by 2:13 PM. This prompted the National Weather Service in Buffalo to issue a lake effect snow warning at 2:36 PM for Niagara, Orleans, Northen Erie and Genesee counties[12]. The warning which would become effective as of 8PM through to 6AM, called for 1 - 3 inches of snow with possible accumulations of up to 6 inches well inland, the warning also made specific mention of possible tree damage and power outages[13].

The change over to snow resulted from increased mixing within the squall, as colder air continued to flood in from the west the atmosphere continued to destabilize vertically as the temperature difference between the lake water and the air several kilometres above grew larger. This allowed the squall to grow vertically in height and achieve much faster updraft speeds. At the 2:54 PM radar indicated the first 20,000 ft echo-top, at the same time lightning was detected.

Despite the fact it was snowing heavily at times, accumulation was limited to grassy areas and locations which were not in direct contact with the ground such as tree branches and power lines. The first notable ground accumulations started to occur just after 4:54 PM when snow fall rates jumped to 3 cm/hr (1.18 in/hr) within thunderstorms inside the squall. At 6:48 PM the National Weather Service decided to update the lake effect snow warning, making it effective immediately and placing great emphasis that extensive tree damage and the loss of power was imminent. By 8 PM numerous reports of trees, power lines and other damage began to flood the NWS Buffalo offices, by this time there was 7 cm (3 in) of accumulation on the ground.

Time Line

Looking to the east on Forest and Elmwood Avenues in Buffalo, New York during the early stages of the lake effect snow storm
A tree limb falls onto a truck on Granger Place in Buffalo
A car is crushed by a tree limb on Potomac off Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, New York
  • October 1 - Long Range Numerical Weather models show deep low effecting the Great Lakes Basin
  • October 6 - Possibility of Lake Effect Snow cited by NWS offices, numerical models mainly see rain
  • October 7 - Chance of lake effect rain included in Buffalo area forecast with a slight possibility of flurries above 1300 ft
  • October 9 - Chance of wet flurries mentioned at lower levels, NWS sees possibility of accumulating snows at higher elevations
  • October 10 - Frontal zone develops over Northern Minnesota - Southern Manitoba.
  • October 11 - Two low pressure systems form and merge over Northern Michigan before racing North
    • 11:35 PM - Cold front passes Port Colborne reporting station in Ontario
  • October 12 - Low pressure system deepens to 980mb and becomes centered 140km west of Attawapiskat
    • 12:46 AM - Cold front passes Buffalo Airport reporting station
    • 3:30 AM - Squall begins to form over Lake Erie
    • 3:54 AM - Lake effect rain first reported at the Buffalo Airport
    • 12:14 PM - Small hail and ice pellets reported at Buffalo Airport, temperature 5C
    • 1:00 PM - Temperature falls to 3C at Buffalo Airport
    • 1:38 PM - Temperature falls to 2C at Buffalo Airport
    • 1:51 PM - Snow Rain mix reported at Buffalo Airport
    • 2:36 PM - NWS Buffalo issues lake effect snow warning
    • 2:54 PM - Radar detects first 20,000 ft echo top, first lightning detected as well
    • 4:54 PM - Snow begins to accumulate as snowfall rates reach 3cm (1.81 in) per hour, heavy thunderstorm reported
    • 7:30 PM - Buffalo Airport grounds all flights due to weather conditions
    • 8:00 PM - NWS Buffalo begins to receive numerous reports of trees and power lines toppling after 7cm (3 in) of snow accumulates
    • 9:15 PM - Ontario Provincial Police close the QEW
    • 10:25 PM - New York State Thruway closes interstate 190, the Niagara Thruhway
    • 10:25 PM - Peace Bridge border crossing is closed
  • October 13 - Low pressure system sinks South and becomes stationary over Pagwa River
    • 1:00 AM - Buffalo Airport reports 21.84cm (8.59 in) of snow accumulation
    • 8:00 AM - Buffalo Airport reports 55.88cm (22.0 in) of snow accumulation
  • October 15 - Remaining snow fully melts
  • October 23 - Most schools in the effected areas re-open
  • October 24 - Erie, Genesee, Orleans and Niagara Counties in Western New York declared a "major disaster" area by President George W. Bush

Accumulation

NWS Buffalo radar estimated liquid accumulation
Accumulation track in inches (NWS)
Location Snowfall
Lancaster/Depew 24 inches
Alden (Millgrove) 24 inches
Cheektowaga (NWS) 22.6 inches
Buffalo (North) 20 inches
Buffalo (Downtown) 15 inches
Buffalo (South) 10 inches
Amherst 14 to 22 inches
Clarence 16 to 22 inches
Tonawanda 12 to 18 inches
West Seneca 14 inches
North Tonawanda 6 to 12 inches
Hamburg 8 to 14 inches
Orchard Park 8 inches
Batavia 10 inches
Medina 8 inches
Lockport 6 to 8 inches
Grand Island 2 to 10 inches
Albion 5 inches
Brockport 3 inches
Niagara Falls 1 inch

Impact

Looking westward on Bird Avenue in Buffalo, New York just off Elmwood Avenue, the street is completely blocked by extensive tree damage

The storm's effects were highly localized: it dumped up to 2 feet (60 cm) of snow on some areas of the Buffalo metro region, while other areas saw very little snow, or no snow at all. The event was described by the National Weather Service Office in Buffalo, New York, as "astounding", "unbelievable" and "incredible" and by the Toronto Star as "one of the most devastating snow storms in US history."[1][14] It was also an example of the "particularly rare meteorological phenomenon" known as thundersnow.

These were the two snowiest October days recorded in Buffalo since the National Weather Service began keeping track 137 years ago.

Template:Wikinewspar3

In affected areas, wet, heavy lake effect snow with a snow-water equivalent (SWE) ratio of between 6:1 and 12:1 (in comparison, the "powder" so prized by skiers is 25:1) and with a weight in excess of 9.8 pounds per square foot)[15] piled onto trees which were still in full leaf, leading to significant damage [to trees] on a scale usually associated with hurricanes.[1] An estimated 400,000 people were without power on Friday the 13th,[16] some 100,000 households remained without power for a week,[17] and a few thousand remained without power for ten days.[18]

Effects of the storm were responsible for three fatalities between Thursday night and Friday morning when the storm hit, two from automobile accidents, and one from a falling branch. Ten more deaths followed in the first days of the aftermath, some from pre-existing health (usually heart) conditions and other causes, and several from carbon monoxide poisoning. Injuries blamed on the storm and its aftermath numbered in the several hundred and included those from chainsaw accidents and carbon monoxide poisoning.[19]

Conservative initial damage estimates to clean up the estimated 6 to 8.6 million cubic yards of debris were at least $130 million USD,[20][19] but even ten days after the storm hit, estimates of the number of tons of debris and the final costs of clearing them were "a moving target."[21] The storm closed the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport for several hours on Thursday, October 12, and again on Friday, October 13, and closed a 100-mile (160-km) stretch of the New York State Thruway for several hours on Friday, October 13. Many if not most businesses were closed for at least a few days, and schools for at least a week. Most schools reopened on Monday, October 23, after six consecutive "snow days", but a few in the most heavily affected areas reopened later that week.[22] Affected parts of Erie, Genesee, Orleans and Niagara Counties in Western New York were declared a "major disaster" area by President George W. Bush on October 24, 2006.[23]

Damage in the Buffalo Metro area

It is estimated that the storm damaged as many as 90 percent of the city's trees,[24][25] including many in the city's cherished parks and parkways, which were designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The damage constituted a significant setback to Buffalo's urban reforestation agenda,[26] which had aimed to increase the city's tree canopy from its estimated 2003 levels of 12 percent to something more closely approaching the national average of 30 percent. Buffalo's suburbs, also hard hit by the storm, do have a canopy cover approaching 20 to 30 percent.[27]

Although the two-foot snow cover melted by Sunday, October 15,[28] cleanup efforts were impeded in the first days after the storm by the tangle of fallen trees, fallen branches and downed power lines: power grid crews couldn't reach the downed power lines because of fallen trees, and tree removal crews couldn't clear debris because of the dangers of the downed power lines.[29] Even after roads were cleared and power was restored, it was estimated that the cleanup and restoration could take weeks or months.[18][30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c ""Historic Lake Effect Snow Storm of October 12-13, 2006"". National Weather Service Forecast Office in Buffalo. Retrieved 2006-10-20. Cite error: The named reference "Historic Lake Effect Snow Storm of October 12-13, 2006" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Bob Swanson and Doyle Rice (October 20, 2006). "Aphid aftermath". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  3. ^ "Off Main Street". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  4. ^ http://www.vaughanweather.com/wikipedia/lake_storm_aphid/srrs-op_kbuf_october2006LES.txt
  5. ^ http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/dailywxmap/dwm_stnplot_20061011.html
  6. ^ http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/dailywxmap/dwm_stnplot_20061013.html
  7. ^ http://www.vaughanweather.com/wikipedia/lake_storm_aphid/srrs-op_kbuf_october2006LES.txt
  8. ^ http://www.vaughanweather.com/wikipedia/lake_storm_aphid/CWPC_11_10_07.html
  9. ^ http://www.vaughanweather.com/wikipedia/lake_storm_aphid/srrs-op_kbuf_october2006LES.txt
  10. ^ http://www.vaughanweather.com/wikipedia/lake_storm_aphid/full_12_10_07.html
  11. ^ http://www.vaughanweather.com/wikipedia/lake_storm_aphid/full_12_10_07.html
  12. ^ http://www.vaughanweather.com/wikipedia/lake_storm_aphid/srrs-op_kbuf_october2006LES_2.txt
  13. ^ http://www.vaughanweather.com/wikipedia/lake_storm_aphid/srrs-op_kbuf_october2006LES_2.txt
  14. ^ Michelle Henry. "30,000 homes still without power". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Stu Ostro. "Historic snowfall for the Niagara Frontier". Weather Channel blog. Retrieved 2006-10-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  16. ^ ""Buffalo, New York snow storm closes schools, leaves nearly 400,000 without power"". Wikinews. Retrieved 2006-10-20. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  17. ^ Tim Lai. ""Buffalo still staggering"". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2006-10-20. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  18. ^ a b Michael Beebe. ""Major disaster status expected"". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "Major disaster status expected" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  19. ^ a b Michael Beebe. ""Cleanup costs top $135 million"". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-20. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "Cleanup costs top $135 million" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  20. ^ Michael Beebe. ""Storm reimbursement cloudy"". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-21. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |datepublished= ignored (help)
  21. ^ ""Cleanup cost a moving target likely to grow bigger"". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-22. {{cite news}}: Text "author Stephen T. Watson and Mary B. Pasciak" ignored (help)
  22. ^ "Most western New York schools reopen after October-surprise". 13WHAM TV (AP). Retrieved 2006-10-25. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  23. ^ "FEMA Disaster Declaration: What It Means For You". WBEN 930AM. Retrieved 2006-10-25. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  24. ^ Caroline Thompson. ""Early snowstorm battered Buffalo's historic parks, trees"". Associated Press. USA Today.
  25. ^ Gene Warner. ""Parks' treasures badly battered"". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-20. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  26. ^ Press Release. ""City of Buffalo Receives State Grant"". Office of the Mayor, Buffalo. Retrieved 2006-10-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |datepublished= ignored (help)
  27. ^ ""Urban Ecosystem Analysis Buffalo-Lackawanna Area Erie County, New York"" (PDF). American Forests. Retrieved 2006-10-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  28. ^ ""WNYers Flock To Erie For Snow Supplies"". WBEN 930 AM. Retrieved 2006-10-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  29. ^ ""270,000 still lack power"". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-22. {{cite news}}: Text "author'Michael Beebe" ignored (help)
  30. ^ Michael Beebe and Thomas J Dolan. "Cleanup to last months". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2006-10-25. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to October 13, 2006 snow storm in Buffalo, New York.
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