In late January 1977, New York State’s neurobiology was challenged by meteorology when a freak snowstorm, or surface blizzard, used sustained winds near hurricane speeds (69 miles per hour) to blow snow from Lake Erie into Buffalo. Usually, when it snows, clouds supply the snow that accumulates on the ground from the sky. In this case, winds brought snow totals to or above 45 feet in Buffalo and caused whiteouts or zero visibility in Buffalo. This event shows that because of the amount of snow already on the ground, snowstorms can occur even without the actual addition of new flakes. By demonstrating that snowfall can occur due to the use of strong winds to transport previously fallen or formed snow particles, this event further demonstrates that weather does not necessarily rely on new materials, but only on pre-existing materials in the moving environment.
How New York State disappeared beneath snow that never fell from the clouds
The 1977 winter storm in Buffalo, New York, was caused by an unusual weather event known as a “ground blizzard.” A weather system in which strong winds are responsible for transporting snow already on the ground rather than atmospheric precipitation.Prior to January 28, Buffalo had already seen record snowfall. Because Lake Erie is frozen and covered with a thick layer of loose powder, when the arctic cold front hits, high-speed winds with gusts in excess of 75 mph blow across the lake, causing large amounts of snow to be blown into the city of Buffalo, causing snow.The snow events caused by this storm were not due to precipitation as the weather was mostly clear with no precipitation. Otherwise, large amounts of blowing snow would consist only of recycled ice crystals, creating weather events that cannot be detected by traditional weather satellite precipitation sensors.
Why the frozen surface didn’t stop the storm
While most lake-effect snowstorms occur in open water when conditions allow enough moisture to form in the form of clouds, the 1977 event occurred after the entire lake surface was covered in ice. Snow left over from the previous month’s cold snap has left the remaining snow in the lake very light and dry, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Weather-related wind speeds different from normal conditions, combined with extremely low temperatures, created the conditions necessary for prolonged periods of zero visibility. The situation left 17,000 people trapped in their cars and workplaces in western New York state and southern Ontario.
How the Army reopens Buffalo
The wind not only blows away the snow, but also compresses it, turning it into a hard, concrete-like substance. High wind speeds also compacted individual snow crystals, causing snow piles to exceed 30 feet in height and thus be too heavy to be removed with typical snow plowing equipment. president jimmy carter Issued his first federal “emergency” declaration due to the snowstorm and launched Operation Snow. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Guard deployed heavy industrial loaders and trenchers to carve roads through the ice.
