Winter in Buffalo: It's Half Started or Half Over?

Well, that's by my unofficial reckoning. Our winter is about three months long, centered around mid-January. (Technically, only the latter half of that claim needs to be true in order for us to now be half done with it!) So let's call it December through February. It's possible but freakish to get significant snow outside that range, and it doesn't stick around for long when it does come outside the three-month "core". (Still - remember November 2000!?)

No real serious lake effect snow yet! The lake is warm and not covered with ice - it's ready for action. One good cold, sustained wind blowing in from the west and we'll get buried. But it doesn't happen every single year. What we're getting right now barely qualifies... Here, educate yourself: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/buf/lakeffect/indexlk.html.

We've got a modest little bit of snow accumulating this week, and it's cold, but it's really nothing much to boast about. So far this winter hasn't really tested our mettle. That's OK too. Half done, knock on wood.