The November 2022 Great Lakes winter storm was a
lake-effectwinter storm that affected parts of
Pennsylvania,
Ohio, and
New York. The winter storm caused high accumulations of snow across the
Great Lakes region, with several locations receiving 50 in (130 cm) of snowfall across New York, with
Hamburg, New York receiving 81.2 in (206 cm) and
Orchard Park, New York recording 80 in (200 cm) of snow. At least four fatalities occurred, with three in New York and one in Indiana, and several highways closed after heavy snowfall. A travel ban was also issued for New York by governor
Kathy Hochul, and thundersnow occurred across areas impacted by the winter storm.
Meteorological history
The storm started on November 16, 2022, at around 18:00 UTC with snowfall being recorded just south of
Buffalo,
New York.[5]Hamburg recorded 34 inches (86 cm) of snow by 8AM EST on November 18.[6] By 2:30pm, that amount increased to 37 inches (94 cm), with 42.3 inches (107 cm) in
Orchard Park.[1] In Buffalo, from 8–9 PM, 3.1 inches (7.9 cm) fell.[7] Over 6,000 customers lost power.[8] The same
lake effect storm also hammered parts of Ohio with up to 17.2 inches (44 cm) of snow in 12 hours.[9] Snow was amplified partially due to very warm
Lake Erie temperatures of 52 °F (11 °C).[10]
Snow and ice totals
observed snow totals from high affected snow areas
Natural Bridge, New York received 70.9 inches (180 cm) of snow.[20] A 132 mi (212 km) stretch of the New York Thruway was closed from
Rochester, New York to the Pennsylvania border.[21]Interstate 90 in Pennsylvania was also closed east of the interchange with
Interstate 86.[22] The full length of
Interstate 290 and
Interstate 990 was closed as well.[23] Further east,
Interstate 81 was closed from the exit of
NY-69 north to the
U.S.-Canada border.[24] A full commercial travel ban was issued for multiple highways in New York.[25][26] Thundersnow was also recorded when the snowstorm hit, with several cars and trucks stuck in the snow.[27] At 66 inches (170 cm) in a single day, Orchard Park set a record for most snow in a single day,[28] with the total snowfall being 77 in (200 cm).[1] In
Gile, Wisconsin, ending on November 18, recorded 24.5 inches (62 cm) of snow.[29] In addition, 23.3 inches (59 cm) fell in
Grand Rapids, Michigan in 65 hours, including daily snowfall records on November 17 and 19.[30] It has been made November at the
Buffalo Niagara International Airport as the third-snowiest November, which later become second-snowiest.[31][32] At least two deaths occurred, due to
cardiac arrest after shoveling the snow.[33][34] A third person died in
Hamlet, Indiana after his snowplow rolled over.[3] An estimated 8,000 customers were without power.[35] The 36.9 inches (94 cm) of snow that fell in
Buffalo, New York in a period of three days made November 2022 the second-highest accumulation of snow in November there.[32]