A historic snowstorm has produced a snow tornado over water, thunder and lightning, and closed a portion of the New York State Thruway in western New York. Record amounts of snow taller than some adults are pounding the Buffalo region in western New York and the Watertown region in upstate New York.
Buffalo broke an all-time statewide record last night for the most snow that has ever fallen in a 24 hour period. As of 7:00pm, Orchard Park, located just outside of Buffalo, received 66″ of snow (five and a half feet).
Fort Drum, located outside of Watertown, has received 70″ of snow, just short of six feet. A few more feet of snow is expected today and tomorrow.
Snow is above the roofs of cars, making travel impossible. All travel has been banned in much of western New York. Front-end loaders being used for snow removal, as well as snow plows on the highways, are getting stuck because the snow is so deep. The New York State Thruway has been closed indefinitely from Exit 53 to Exit 59.
Early yesterday morning, a “snownado” funnel was spotted over Lake Erie offshore of Buffalo. This is the snow version of a waterspout that is equivalent to a tornado over the water. This is a rare weather phenomenon.
Thunder and lightning have been reported in some of the heavier snow bands, with a lightning strike caught on camera near Buffalo.
