weather

Fans of long winters may long remember 2009-2010 as a disappointment.

There was no measurable snow in March, according to Dave Sage of the National Weather Service, and combine that with a late snowfall to start the season, it may be the shortest winter on record for Genesee County.

"It's pretty unusual," Sage told WBTA. "We didn't even have our first measurable snow until Dec. 1. If Feb. 28 is truly the last time we had measurable snow, it will be the shortest period, just a 90-day period, between the first measurable snow and the last measurable snow, and that would be a record."

The last time there was no snow in March was in the 1870s.

Sage, noted, however, that it's at least theoretically possible we'll get more snow before summer. In 1989, the region was hit with 8 inches of snow on one day in May.

The forecast for today -- more drizzle, and rain showers into the night. Then it starts to clear, but temperatures over the next three or four days will range from 22 degrees to 58 degrees. Starting tomorrow, it will be partially cloudy for a few days, clearing to a sunny, but slightly chilly day, on Saturday.

Photo: Taken this morning, a horse on Pearl Road in Oakfield.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Tonawanda Creek, but it sounds like the only severely high water will be in Erie County.

None of the roads listed that may flood -- Fletcher, Burdick, Kirby and Tonawanda Creek -- are in Genesee County.

The creek is expected to crest at 12.8 by Monday evening, and 12 feet is considered flood stage. The NWS issued gave no indication for high creek levels in Batavia and Genesee County.

The creek is running high, though.

The anticipated rainfall in Genesee County over the next 24 hours is expected to be less than an inch.

Photo: Tonawanda Creek off of Walnut Street in Batavia.

A flood watch has been issued for the region by the National Weather Service.

The watch is effect through Sunday afternoon.

The forecast calls for an inch of rain over the next 48 hours. The rain combined with snow melt has increased the chance of water levels in creeks and streams rising to bank levels.

The weather service encourages residents to monitor media outlets for any changes in flood conditions, including possibly raising the alert level to "warning."

People in areas prone to flooding should prepare to take appropriate actions.

Photo: Tonawanda Creek behind the Genesee County Court House this afternoon.

Did you like the sun today? There's supposed to be more of that where that came from. In fact, the weekend should be quite nice, with highs in 40s and more sun.

Not to put a damper on things, but Weather.com is predicting snow overnight in a week.

But in the meantime, pre-spring weather with highs in the 40s and sun, or partly cloudy, seems to be in our immediate future.

Pictures: From this evening, a barn on Lear Road. Below a tractor and old garage on Wilkenson Road.

The weather Web sites say it's 36 degrees in Batavia. My thermometer reads 42. The sun is out with a smattering of puffy clouds in the sky to add a little artistic flourish over the snow-draped houses of the Southside. Pachuco and I were returning from the longest walk we've taken in weeks and I spotted this snow family on Ganson, so I went back with my camera.

The forecast for tonight and tomorrow is snow/flurries (depending on which Web site you believe), and snow is forecast for Tuesday. 

Winter ain't over yet.

Batavia got a pretty good blanket of snow overnight and into this morning, with more snow in the forecast.

We can expect another two or three inches of snow each of the next couple of days.

Temperatures will be in the mid 30s with light winds.

Photo: I wish I lived on the same street as Mike Rosenbeck. This morning he was out on Lewis plowing the sidewalks for his friends and neighbors. And he seemed to be having quite a bit of fun doing it.

Above, Bryce Hobson shovels snow off his family's home front sidewalk. This morning, a lot of Batavians were digging out from the overnight snowfall.

The winter storm warning that had been in effect until 1 p.m. was cancelled this morning. The forecast still includes snow for the rest of the day, but only a little accumulation.

Camdon King, 5, is building a snow fort in front of his grandfather's house.

Chance King, 2, plays in the snow in front of his grandfather's house.

Grandfather Larry Hale shovels his driveway.

A large storm front that the National Weather Service says is dropping heavy, wet snow, is pushing across the heart of New York this morning.

A winter storm warning remains in effect through 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Genesee County is on the edge of the storm front and today's snow accumulation is expected to be about only one to three inches. Tonight, the area may get heavier snow accumulation, with the heaviest snowfall coming in the Finger Lakes area and Genesee Valley.

This storm may dump as much as eight inches of snow on Genesee County, while the Finger Lakes may get as much as 12 inches.

Below is a snapshot from the Thruway Cam at the Pembroke exit showing current conditions there.

Wet, sticky snow that can damage trees and bring down power lines is on the way, according to the National Weather Service.

This morning's winter storm watch has been upgraded to a warning.

The weather service says the storm will start with light snow Thursday morning and pick up strength as the day goes on and by Thursday night, snowfall will be heavy, perhaps up to two inches an hour.

The storm will taper off Friday, but not before the storm dumps as much as 12 inches of snow in some parts of the region.

Winds will increase late Thursday, up to 25 mph with gusts of 35 mph. 

"The wet nature of the snow should limit drifting somewhat," the weather service says.

It's best not to travel, but drivers should use extreme caution if travel is unavoidable, the weather service said.

A winter storm watch is in effect from late tonight through Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service issued the watch and said significant snowfall could hit the region by Thursday morning, lasting well into Friday. (Correction: In original version, we said a watch was more significant than a warning. The opposite is true. A warning is more severe than a watch.)

It's too early to predict the amount of snow that could be dumped on the area.

"Those planning to travel during this period should monitor the latest weather forecasts for updates to this developing storm," the service said in its bulletin.

An AccuWeather press release, according to the D&C, is calling for a "hurricane" level snow storm to hit the Hudson Valley and spill into the Rochester area.

"It's going to be a very nasty storm," said Alex Sosnowski, a meteorologist with AccuWeather.com, a weather service based in State College, Pa.

An AccuWeather press release said the storm "will be nothing short of a monster" and "may seem more like a 'snow hurricane' than a blizzard."

A low pressure zone moving from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario is bringing snow and a winter mix to Western New York and the National Weather Service has issued a weather advisory.

Rain and a freezing drizzle overnight will make untreated roads quite slippery and caution when driving is recommended.

The advisory is in effect from midnight until 6 a.m.
 

The prediction of snow today is just starting to come true -- there's some light flurries outside. The chance of snow in the 2 p.m.hour is put at 80 percent, but drops off quickly, as does the temperature.  We should drop from about 35 degrees to 31 by early evening, and then the temperatures creep back up to the mid-30s after 9 p.m.

There could be more snow this evening.

There's about a 30 percent chance of precipitation throughout most of tomorrow, with the chance of snow changing to a chance of rain by 3 p.m., when temperatures are expected to hit about 38 degrees.

Weather.com's 10-day forecast has temperatures in the 30s with varying degrees of possible rain or snow.

Photo: The Genesee Valley plows through a small snow bank at Harvester Avenue as it passes the Harvester Center.

Sunday should bring some sun, with highs hitting 31. Enjoy it while you can. There's an 80-percent chance of snow on Monday afternoon. While Monday's temperature could hit 35, winds might top out at 35 mph.

We can look forward to highs in the mid 30s on Tuesday and Wednesday with some chance of rain or snow showers, and maybe some patches of snow.

Photo: The silo above is located on Asbury Road in Le Roy. The photo was shot late Saturday afternoon.

Danger: Slippery, icy roads.

That's the warning tonight from the National Weather Service, which has issued a winter weather advisory effective through 11 a.m.

The wet snow of this afternoon is giving way to a freezing drizzle overnight.

The icing will be minimal, notes the Weather Service, but it doesn't take much to put a thin glaze on roadways.

Untreated roads will be quite slick.

It's snowing lightly right now, and the light snow is expected to continue into tonight and tomorrow morning.

It should taper off to flurries by Friday, but there's some bit of snow in the forecast through Monday.

And some wind, up to 20 mph at times.

And cold -- below 30 degrees until Saturday, when the temperature might reach a blistering 31 degrees.

Photo: Another barn shot. This one on Route 63 heading out toward Oakfield, but still in the Town of Batavia, I beleive.

Did you enjoy the sun today? Good. Because you're not likely to see it for at least four or five days.

Snow returns tonight, with less of an inch of accumulation, and then another inch expected in the morning, with some bit of snow predicted for each of the next three days.

Temperatures will range from the low 20s at night to the low to mid 30s during the days.

Above: I wanted to play around with some low-light photography. Even so, I got a late start. I drove out toward Alexander on Route 98, turned right on Dodson and found this cemetery with a barn in the distance.

The Batavia area was blanketed by about an inch of snow over night, and snow will continue through the day, with very little accumulation.

But accumulation tonight should be another one or two inches. By Monday snow showers will turn to flurries.

Temperatures will be in the mid-20s range, with overnight lows dropping below 20 degrees.

Picture: A barn behind a graveyard on Judge Road in Oakfield.

We're not going to get a lot of snow today, but it's going to be steady.

And that could make for some slick driving conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for Genesee County.

Snowfall will be less than an inch an hour and total accumulation shouldn't exceed three or four inches.

The forecast for the rest of the week: More snow, more cold. Tomorrow temperatures will drop into the low 20s, after a blistering high today of 27.

Picture: Tireless bike stuck in a snow bank outside Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles.

Not surprising for Western New York in the middle of February, the cold and snow keeps coming.

Tonight, there will be some lake effect snow east of Batavia, but Batavia itself may get only minor dusting.

There will be a little snow Tuesday night, with 100-percent chance of snow on Wednesday, but it doesn't sound like it will be much of a storm.

Highs will be in the mid 20s with some, but not much, wind.

Picture: A very large icicle is forming from the waterspout off Strong Forge on School Street.