The thunder snow, 20 years later

By: Helena Kottas, Assistant Features Editor

This past Monday marked the 20–year anniversary of the October storm in Buffalo, N.Y. On Oct. 12, 2006, Buffalo went from a calm 62 degree day to a wild snowglobe within hours. This storm was especially unusual because it hit so early in the season, when Buffalo was still experiencing high to mild fall temperatures and many of the trees had yet to lose their leaves.

Around 3 p.m., the city was covered in lake effect rain that no one thought much of. Suddenly, by 8 p.m., everything had changed. Snow was coming down rapidly, trees were falling and the power was quickly going out. Within 48 hours all of the snow had melted away, leaving no trace of its existence, except for the horrendous flooding across the city.

People have stories of their day starting out normally. People recall going out for a run, attending their kid’s soccer games and even enjoying lunch outside. Suddenly, all of this changed. Later in the evening, extremely cold air came down from Canada, but Lake Erie was still unusually warm. The contrast between the cold air and warm lake created the perfect conditions for intense lake–effect snow. 

What made the storm even more unusual was thunder snow, a rare phenomenon in which thunder and lightning occur during a snowstorm. The combination of these conditions contributed to 24 inches of snow falling in just 16 hours. Unfortunately, approximately 90% of the city’s trees, or around 57,000 trees, were damaged during the storm. Because the trees still had all their leaves, their branches were more susceptible to breaking under the weight of the heavy, wet snow. The falling trees damaged power lines, leaving many residents without electricity for days. Some residents were without electricity for about a week, but in some areas, full power restoration took up to 13 days. 

Additionally, many roads were blocked off, leaving some people stuck in their cars on the highway for upwards of 18 hours. Even the Buffalo Bills had to be picked up by helicopter and snow mobiles, so they could make it to Detroit by the following Sunday. Basements also experienced flooding when the snow began to rapidly melt. Thus, the storm’s effects lasted longer after the snow disappeared. Between fallen trees, blocked roads and power outages, many residents had a difficult time returning to their normal lives. 

Apart from this crazy weather phenomenon that you may or may not have heard of, the October storm serves as a reminder of how quickly the weather can change and how important it is to be prepared. It can be helpful to keep a small kit in your car with a blanket, a hat, gloves and a snack or two. You should get your winter boots and coat now, rather than waiting to ask for them for Christmas. Keeping your gas tank at least half full is another simple precaution that could be extremely important if you are stuck in traffic for hours. 

The October storm of 2006 showed Buffalo just how unpredictable Mother Nature can be, proving that when it comes to western New York weather, it is always better to be prepared than caught off guard.