10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH BLIZZRD OF 1999

Written by: Brian Neudorff

March 3-4 1999 a deep low pressure moved from West Virginia north across New York to Quebec, Canada. Heavy rain changed to heavy snow as cold air circulated into the region. Snow fell at the rate of two to three inches per hour. Across Monroe and Wayne counties snowfall amounts were greatest with over two feet falling. 24.3" of snow fell in a 24 hour period, this was the second greatest snowfall in a 24-hour period. The record, 29.8", occurred in March 1900. The near record snowfall fell during a 15 hour period starting at 11:00 PM Wednesday March 3rd through 2:00 PM Thursday March 4th, 1999.

The winds were also very strong with gusty northwest winds as high as 45 mph and produced blizzard conditions at the Rochester airport for a 7 hour period from 5:00 AM until 12:00 PM on March 4th, 1999. Drifts reached four to five feet in places. The New York State Thruway (I-90) was closed from Depew to Syracuse. Several hundred cars were stranded in the closed section. The Governor declared Monroe, Wayne, Oswego, Wyoming, Livingston, and Cayuga counties State Disaster Areas. Orleans, Ontario, Wyoming, Livingston, Monroe and Wayne counties were also declared Federal Disaster Areas. The National Guard was called on to help remove cars, rescue stranded motorists and deliver food and medical supplies. Schools and businesses were closed throughout the area. Nearly 10,000 customers lost power during the storm.

Some of the snow reports included: Hamlin 28"; Perinton and Fairport 26"; Penfield 25"'; Ontario and Rochester Airport 24"; Walworth 23"; Victor 22"; Greece and Webster 20"; Portageville 17"; Palmyra, Canandaigua, Avon and Franklinville 16"; Mt. Morris 15"; Dansville 14"; Oswego, Honeoye, and Angelica 13"; Batavia, Friendship and Albion 12"; Olean, Alfred, Whitesville, and Strykersville 11"; Sodus and Salamanca 10"; Bennington 9"; Wales 8"; and Darien and Arkwright 7".

If that wasn't enough, to add insult to injury a strong storm moved from Ohio to New England and dropped a general six to twelve inches of snow across the entire region. The snow fell just two days after much of the area was recovering from another major winter storm. The heavy snow was blamed for numerous auto accidents--some with injuries. Rochester, NY received another 18.4 inches of snow, bringing the three-day total to 40.7 inches. This established several new snowfall records for that city, including a record snow depth of 36 inches.

Other snow amounts included: Fairport, Penfield, Castorland and Ontario 18"; Pittsford and Montague 17"; Webster, Greece and Palmyra 16"; Mt. Morris 15"; Highmarket and Lyndonville 14"; Wales, Albion, Sherman, Victor, Honeoye and Watertown 12"; Lockport, Bennington, Arkwright, and West Monroe 11"; Youngstown, Alden, Perrysburg, Dansville, Avon and Oswego 10"; Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Buffalo, Darien, South Dayton, Friendship and Fulton 9"; Elma, Angelica, Franklinville, and Alfred 8"