On December 9, 1995, a cold front passed through western New York. As the cold air behind the front passed over Lake Erie, snow squalls began in the Lake Effect Snowbelts of western New York.
A persistent wind fetch kept a solid snow squall band parked over the City of Buffalo. From the evening of the 9th through much of the 10th, snow fell at the rate of two to four inches per hour. Two feet of snow fell in just eight hours across much of the city and northern and eastern suburbs. Visibilities dropped to zero and wind chill readings fell to -30F.
Snowplows were unable to keep up with the rate of snowfall. An emergency was declared in Buffalo and the National Guard was called in to do snow removal. The Airport was closed as well as the New York State Thruway. When it was all said and done, a total of 38 inches had fallen on the city, a 24 hour snowfall record. The previous record was 25.3 inches. The record still stands today.
The snow squall band was narrow, like a fire hose. Just ten miles either side of the stationary band, only three inches fell.
The lake effect snows off Lake Ontario were just as intense. 42 inches of snow fell at Palermo, New York.
