REDFIELD - A 10-day stretch of intense lake-effect squalls has left communities along eastern Lake Ontario with between 7 and 12 feet of snow and the problem of what to do with it all.
The Associated Press
Department of Public Works employee John Grasso throws snow dropped off by trucks from the city of Oswego during snow removal, Monday, in Oswego.
Department of Public Works employee John Grasso throws snow dropped off by trucks from the city of Oswego during snow removal, Monday, in Oswego.
The National Weather Service said the 11 feet, 9 inches of snow that fell in Redfield was a new top “single event” snowfall for New York, although officials did not call it a record. Redfield's 10-day total eclipsed the 10 feet, 7 inches of snow that fell in nearby Montague over seven days ending Jan. 1, 2002.
The weather service considered the snow from Feb. 3 through Monday morning as one event, said Tom Niziol, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
The spell of squalls continued Monday pushing through Onondaga, Madison and southern Oneida counties, leaving behind up to three inches of new snow. All schools in the area were in session again Monday after many took all last week off because of the heavy snow. Businesses and government offices also were open.
Final snowfall totals included 121 inches in Parish and 106 inches in Mexico, both in Oswego County, and 106 inches in Osceola in neighboring Lewis County. The city of Oswego received 85 inches.
Although there were no snow-related deaths, the persistent squalls prompted Gov. Eliot Spitzer last week to declare a state disaster emergency in Oswego County. The state sent in approximately 125 workers to help with snow removal, as well as heavy equipment.
A winter storm watch was posted Tuesday night and Wednesday for all of western and central New York as a storm system was approaching from the Midwest. Forecasters said the storm could bring 8 to 20 inches of snow to upstate New York.
“Unfortunately, they're not going to get much of a breather,” Niziol said.
Residents in Redfield were unfazed by their new record. Redfield, whose economy thrives on snowmobilers and cross-country skiers, receives an annual average of 270 inches - more than 22 feet.
“It's not really anything we'll get excited about,” said Town Clerk Elaine Verdon. “It's not an unusual amount, it's just unusual that fell it fell in such a short period of time.”
Initially, it was reported that Redfield had 146 inches of snow. Niziol said the weather service came up with a total of 141 inches by having one of its meteorologists recheck the locations measured by the area's volunteer spotter and taking his own measurements.
Although it's a record amount, it comes with several caveats, which is why the weather service doesn't count it as an official record, Niziol said.
For one, it only goes back 12 years to when the weather service created a network of more than 150 volunteer weather spotters to help gather measurements. Prior to that, snowfall information was collected from only three weather service offices.
There's also a question of whether to count the spell of squalls as one single-event, or as a series, Niziol said.
“They had significant breaks Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we could have said the event was over on any of those days. The timing is always an issue,” he said.
At least in Redfield, officials don't have to worry about snow removal.
“Out here, we'll just leave it in piles and wait for it to melt. It's not like a city where it would be in someone's way,” Verdon said.
For larger communities like Oswego, Mexico and Parish, that has become the main focus of recovery. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation has given some highway departments the go-ahead to dump the snow in open water if necessary. Other communities haul it to a centralized location.
“There's just too much snow to leave in place. It makes it dangerous to walk and to drive,” said Oswego Mayor Randy Bateman.
Removal of snow in Oswego began over the weekend as the squalls weakened and provided weary municipal workers several long breaks without falling snow, Bateman said.
The city carts its snow to a nearby two-acre reservoir, where it's piled into one big mound. Last year, the pile did not entirely melt until July.
“With all the snow we've gotten, that snow mound might be there all summer into next winter,” Bateman quipped.
The weather service considered the snow from Feb. 3 through Monday morning as one event, said Tom Niziol, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
The spell of squalls continued Monday pushing through Onondaga, Madison and southern Oneida counties, leaving behind up to three inches of new snow. All schools in the area were in session again Monday after many took all last week off because of the heavy snow. Businesses and government offices also were open.
Final snowfall totals included 121 inches in Parish and 106 inches in Mexico, both in Oswego County, and 106 inches in Osceola in neighboring Lewis County. The city of Oswego received 85 inches.
Although there were no snow-related deaths, the persistent squalls prompted Gov. Eliot Spitzer last week to declare a state disaster emergency in Oswego County. The state sent in approximately 125 workers to help with snow removal, as well as heavy equipment.
A winter storm watch was posted Tuesday night and Wednesday for all of western and central New York as a storm system was approaching from the Midwest. Forecasters said the storm could bring 8 to 20 inches of snow to upstate New York.
“Unfortunately, they're not going to get much of a breather,” Niziol said.
Residents in Redfield were unfazed by their new record. Redfield, whose economy thrives on snowmobilers and cross-country skiers, receives an annual average of 270 inches - more than 22 feet.
“It's not really anything we'll get excited about,” said Town Clerk Elaine Verdon. “It's not an unusual amount, it's just unusual that fell it fell in such a short period of time.”
Initially, it was reported that Redfield had 146 inches of snow. Niziol said the weather service came up with a total of 141 inches by having one of its meteorologists recheck the locations measured by the area's volunteer spotter and taking his own measurements.
Although it's a record amount, it comes with several caveats, which is why the weather service doesn't count it as an official record, Niziol said.
For one, it only goes back 12 years to when the weather service created a network of more than 150 volunteer weather spotters to help gather measurements. Prior to that, snowfall information was collected from only three weather service offices.
There's also a question of whether to count the spell of squalls as one single-event, or as a series, Niziol said.
“They had significant breaks Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we could have said the event was over on any of those days. The timing is always an issue,” he said.
At least in Redfield, officials don't have to worry about snow removal.
“Out here, we'll just leave it in piles and wait for it to melt. It's not like a city where it would be in someone's way,” Verdon said.
For larger communities like Oswego, Mexico and Parish, that has become the main focus of recovery. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation has given some highway departments the go-ahead to dump the snow in open water if necessary. Other communities haul it to a centralized location.
“There's just too much snow to leave in place. It makes it dangerous to walk and to drive,” said Oswego Mayor Randy Bateman.
Removal of snow in Oswego began over the weekend as the squalls weakened and provided weary municipal workers several long breaks without falling snow, Bateman said.
The city carts its snow to a nearby two-acre reservoir, where it's piled into one big mound. Last year, the pile did not entirely melt until July.
“With all the snow we've gotten, that snow mound might be there all summer into next winter,” Bateman quipped.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.