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[1] There are nearly infinite conceivable "perfect storms"; atmospheric phenomena that optimally exploit regional geography.
Some are obvious: Sandy shoving the Atlantic into NYC; Harvey dropping 60" of rain on a cement city.
Some are less so- like the 1977 Buffalo Blizzard.
![[1] There are nearly infinite conceivable "perfect storms"; atmospheric phenomena that optimally exploit regional geography.Some are obvious: Sandy shoving the Atlantic into NYC; Harvey dropping 60" of rain on a cement city.Some are less so- like the 1977 Buffalo Blizzard.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Er-psR2XIAgbhk9.jpg "[1] There are nearly infinite conceivable \"perfect storms\"; atmospheric phenomena that optimally exploit regional geography.Some are obvious: Sandy shoving the Atlantic into NYC; Harvey dropping 60\" of rain on a cement city.Some are less so- like the 1977 Buffalo Blizzard.")
Some are obvious: Sandy shoving the Atlantic into NYC; Harvey dropping 60" of rain on a cement city.
Some are less so- like the 1977 Buffalo Blizzard.
[2] Many ~perfect storms~ require days or weeks of stage-setting, but few to the degree of the 1977 blizzard.
The conditions began to come together with a frigid November-January, 10-15°C below normal in the Great Lakes. By mid-December, Lake Erie was completely frozen over.
![[2] Many ~perfect storms~ require days or weeks of stage-setting, but few to the degree of the 1977 blizzard.The conditions began to come together with a frigid November-January, 10-15°C below normal in the Great Lakes. By mid-December, Lake Erie was completely frozen over.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Er-qILXXUAETXb8.png "[2] Many ~perfect storms~ require days or weeks of stage-setting, but few to the degree of the 1977 blizzard.The conditions began to come together with a frigid November-January, 10-15°C below normal in the Great Lakes. By mid-December, Lake Erie was completely frozen over.")
The conditions began to come together with a frigid November-January, 10-15°C below normal in the Great Lakes. By mid-December, Lake Erie was completely frozen over.
[3] With the cold came frequent snow.
A series of storms blanketed the northeastern US with snow, a local maxima in the vicinity of the Lakes. The frozen Erie itself was able to accumulate an impressive snowpack.
The entire time, frigid temperatures kept the snow powdery.
![[3] With the cold came frequent snow. A series of storms blanketed the northeastern US with snow, a local maxima in the vicinity of the Lakes. The frozen Erie itself was able to accumulate an impressive snowpack.The entire time, frigid temperatures kept the snow powdery.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Er-qzCGW4AwYzQA.png "[3] With the cold came frequent snow. A series of storms blanketed the northeastern US with snow, a local maxima in the vicinity of the Lakes. The frozen Erie itself was able to accumulate an impressive snowpack.The entire time, frigid temperatures kept the snow powdery.")
A series of storms blanketed the northeastern US with snow, a local maxima in the vicinity of the Lakes. The frozen Erie itself was able to accumulate an impressive snowpack.
The entire time, frigid temperatures kept the snow powdery.
[4] To Buffalo, the powder atop Erie may as well have been gunpowder. And on January 28th, 1977, a match dropped in the form of an extremely powerful northern stream trough.
[5] Ahead of the trough, a strong surface low was ushering in a frigid airmass, even by the standards of the winter of 1977.
In the Plains, temperatures dropped to the negative 20s F as the cold front passed. Intense NW-ly flow pushed wind chills below -50°F.
In the Plains, temperatures dropped to the negative 20s F as the cold front passed. Intense NW-ly flow pushed wind chills below -50°F.
[6] When the cold front hit buffalo, the surface low's pressure was plunging, and increasing pressure gradients with the continental high created a perfect setup for extreme onshore flow from Lake Erie.
Normally, this would cause concern downwind of lake effect snow.
Normally, this would cause concern downwind of lake effect snow.
[7] But the frozen lake released no moisture. Instead, the howling winds blew the snow that had accumulated on Erie's ice with them, slamming a white wall into Buffalo with the passing cold front.
A rapid-onset blizzard had developed.
And the wind wasn't going anywhere fast.
A rapid-onset blizzard had developed.
And the wind wasn't going anywhere fast.
[8] Strong, frigid W-ly flow continued for days as the cyclone bottomed out over SE Canada.
Feet of snow from the icy Erie covered streets in Buffalo through February 1st, swept by polar winds.
Wind chills bottomed out around -65°F, and snow drifted to 25 feet in the city.
Feet of snow from the icy Erie covered streets in Buffalo through February 1st, swept by polar winds.
Wind chills bottomed out around -65°F, and snow drifted to 25 feet in the city.
[9] Almost no precipitation fell during the blizzard of 1977. But more than 10,000 motorists were stranded in a city suddenly only navigable by snowmobile.
At least one major fire and scattered looting marred the city. A man was even injured when his snowmobile hit a chimney.
![[9] Almost no precipitation fell during the blizzard of 1977. But more than 10,000 motorists were stranded in a city suddenly only navigable by snowmobile. At least one major fire and scattered looting marred the city. A man was even injured when his snowmobile hit a chimney.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Er-yyINXMAIDwj9.jpg "[9] Almost no precipitation fell during the blizzard of 1977. But more than 10,000 motorists were stranded in a city suddenly only navigable by snowmobile. At least one major fire and scattered looting marred the city. A man was even injured when his snowmobile hit a chimney.")
At least one major fire and scattered looting marred the city. A man was even injured when his snowmobile hit a chimney.
[10] In January 1977, the 'perfect storm' was not a hurricane, tornado outbreak, or flood.
It was months of stage-setting followed by an unusually intense cold front. But it was enough to paralyze one of the US's snowiest cities.
![[10] In January 1977, the 'perfect storm' was not a hurricane, tornado outbreak, or flood.It was months of stage-setting followed by an unusually intense cold front. But it was enough to paralyze one of the US's snowiest cities.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Er-zjqfW4AM52h3.jpg "[10] In January 1977, the 'perfect storm' was not a hurricane, tornado outbreak, or flood.It was months of stage-setting followed by an unusually intense cold front. But it was enough to paralyze one of the US's snowiest cities.")
It was months of stage-setting followed by an unusually intense cold front. But it was enough to paralyze one of the US's snowiest cities.
These images are mostly from @WeatherdotUS, with the photos from the Buffalo Stories blog, wikipedia, and Buffalo News respectively.
