Erie County Report Highlights Towns Most Affected by Lake Effect Snow

Residents across Western New York are no strangers to snow, but a recent Erie County report sheds light on which communities have faced the heaviest burdens over the past 30 years.

 

The findings confirm what many have long suspected: the Southtowns, including Hamburg and Orchard Park, consistently receive the highest snowfall totals. However, the report delves deeper, revealing that areas like Holland, Boston, and Concord experience more frequent snow events, particularly those exceeding four inches.

 

Larry Heim, Highway Superintendent for the Town of Concord, remarked, "We're used to it. It is what it is." He noted the variability within the region: "Sometimes in the valleys you have nothing; on the hills, you have a foot and a half. It all depends on the day."

 

The report indicates that the Erie County Department of Public Works district in Concord encounters snowfalls under four inches only 13% of the time, underscoring the area's propensity for significant snow events.

 

Reflecting on the cumulative impact, Heim observed, "We get snow, it melts; I guess that does add up to more snow over time." Indeed, Concord has accumulated approximately 1,970 inches—over 164 feet—of snow in the past three decades, surpassing the height of the new Bills stadium.

 

The report is slated for presentation to the Erie County Legislature on January 22. In a letter accompanying the findings, Dan Neaverth Jr. expressed hope that the report will provide municipalities with a better understanding of this unique phenomenon.

 

As the region braces for future winters, this comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the patterns and impacts of lake effect snow across Erie County.