APRIL SNOW, IT HAPPENS...

Written by: Brian Neudorff

The average monthly snowfall for April is 5.1" The last 10 years have averaged 3.3" of snow. Of those 10 years, 5 of them have reported 5 or more inches during the month. Aprils of 2003, 2004 & 2007 had over 6 inches of snow for the month.

There have also been some notable snow storms during the month of April, most of which took place in the first week of the month:

April 4th 1990 - Circulation around deep low pressure over northern New York brought cold, moist air to portions of western and central New York. A record snowfall of 5.8 inches was recorded at the Buffalo airport. The heavy, wet, snow broke many trees and limbs throughout the area. Slippery road conditions were blamed for dozens of accidents. Other reports received: Warsaw, Wyoming county, 11"; Angelica, Allegany county, 10"; New Albion, Cattaraugus cuonty, 8"; Sherman, Chautauqua county, 5"; and Friendship, Allegany county 6".

April 5th 2003 - 4TH-5TH...Low pressure over Illinois brought a mix of wintry weather to parts of the Genesee Valley , the Finger Lakes and the North Country . Across the North Country the precipitation mainly fell as snow mixed with sleet at times. Nine to twelve inches accumulated over the higher elevations. Across the Genesee Valley and the Finger Lakes , the precipitation fell mainly as freezing rain. Up to an inch of ice accumulation was measured. Hardest hit areas were eastern Monroe, Wayne and northern Cayuga counties. A Federal Disaster Declaration included Livingston , Monroe , northern Cayuga, Ontario , Orleans , Oswego , and Wayne counties. The heavy ice accumulation downed trees, limbs and power and telephone lines. Over 175000 customers lost power. In some cases power outages lasted for up to one week. Schools and businesses closed for several days. Over 100 shelters were opened to house people without utilities. The falling trees and power poles produced a significant amount of damage to structures and automobiles. In Cato, northern Cayuga county, a sixty-year-old woman was killed when an ice-laden maple tree fell onto and crushed the pickup truck she was sitting in. Agriculturally, fruit trees were severely damaged, especially the tart cherry trees in Wayne county.

April 4th 1990 - Circulation around deep low pressure over northern New York brought cold, moist air to portions of western and central New York. A record snowfall of 5.8 inches was recorded at the Buffalo airport. The heavy, wet, snow broke many trees and limbs throughout the area. Slippery road conditions were blamed for dozens of accidents. Other reports received: Warsaw, Wyoming county, 11"; Angelica, Allegany county, 10"; New Albion, Cattaraugus county, 8"; Sherman, Chautauqua county, 5"; and Friendship, Allegany county 6". Rochester only saw a trace of snow as most of the snow was located around Buffalo into northwest Pennsylvania.