The Great Holiday Snowstorm of 2001

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One year later, the Buffalo, New York metropolitan area was basking in what was to become the first November in recorded history; a November without any trace of recorded snowfall. December 2001 was holding true to be the same as November, no snow. Buffalonians everywhere were overjoyed at this great abnormal phenomenon, as they flocked to golf courses, walked around in short pants, rode bicycles and motorcycles and basically lived out their normal warm weather routines well into December. There was a downside to all this great weather though, they found it very hard to get into the holiday spirit with the lack of the white powdery stuff and the skiers and snow boarders weren't too happy either.

Things sure changed on December 24, 2001 as the snow finally fell. Just north of the Buffalo metro area was the first place to get hit hard. A couple of feet fell in 24 hours and there was a warning that by December 26th the rest of the Buffalo metro area was about to get whacked as well. On the morning of December 26th, most of the Buffalo area awoke to find out that they had been buried under over three feet of snow. Driving bans were in effect as snow clogged streets were impassable. It took me six hours to clear my driveway of the four plus feet of snow that fell at our place. The next morning most folks were floored as they peered out their windows and saw that they're yards were buried in yet another three feet of snow that had fallen that night as well. Over seven feet of snow had fallen in two days. This is an event that had never happened in this area before.

All that warm weather had been a curse. The unusually warm weather had left Lake Erie unusually warm as well, rendering it once again into a huge snow making machine. The record snowfall had once again thrust the Buffalo area into the national spotlight. The national guard was called in once again to help dig us out, in what had become a state of emergency. I had spent a total of 23 hours digging out my place as well as that of members of my family from Christmas Day up until December 30th. Snow not only had to be removed from driveways and sidewalks but also from roofs. Seven feet of snow can weigh heavy on a roof as several homes and businesses collapsed due to the weight of the snow. The Great Holiday Snowstorm of 2001 was followed by a slow thaw as 2002 came in with days topping out at 35-40 degrees. This caused the seven foot snow pack to compress down to only about a foot or so by January 10th. We aren't golfing in January here in Buffalo but the roads are clear and our lives are back to normal. Normal for January that is.

Below are more pictures that I took of the storm which were taken between December 27th and January 4, 2002. These photos are best viewed from a warm room, preferably with a nice cold beverage in hand. Enjoy!
 
 

The snow shovel leaning up against the wall is sixty six inches tall. This path leads to our front porch and door.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Snow piled up along side our driveway make it impossible to use the door in the upper left of this photo, which leads to the room off of our garage. Only the top quarter of the door is visible as is the window just to the left of it. Most of the windows in this room were buried in snow and the room looked like an igloo from inside.
 
 
 
 
 

Snow piled up in front of these houses almost reach the second floor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Another problem arises, where do you put all of that snow once it has been removed from public roads and streets? This former K Mart parking lot on Ridge Road was one of just a number of places around the area that became a dump for the snow. The city of Rochester, New York took some of the snow off of our hands as well. Seems they didn't get more than a dusting over there and we were more than happy to send a few truck loads east for their winter carnival. What's a winter carnival without snow? The snow in this photo will probably still be around in some form in the month of May.