by Sam Smart

Created on: September 11, 2009

The city of Buffalo has a humid continental climate, which is known for chilly winters and warm summers. Buffalo, located in western New York, is situated near two large lakes: Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Both of those lakes have some influence on Buffalo's weather, delivering lots of cloudiness, as well as lake-effect snows. Yearly precipitation is frequent, holding the annual amount of 40.55 inches.

Winter

Winters are cold in Buffalo. Daytime temperatures are often in the 30s and 20s, with plenty of days that are below freezing. At night, those temperatures will usually fall into the teens. Occasional arctic blasts from Canada may drop temperatures into the single digits in Buffalo, even during the daytime hours. Meanwhile, the surrounding lakes support the city with so much cloudiness, as only a few days of all-day sunshine are observed.

Much of the winter precipitation can fall in the form of snow. Buffalo is one of the large cities in the United States that is known for lots of snow during the winter season. In a single winter, normal snowfall is 68.6 inches. Sometimes storm systems along the East Coast bring heavy snowfall amounts in a single day. But more often, the nearby lakes of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario bring periods of heavy lake-effect snow for Buffalo. In addition, there are several rainy days in the winter. General precipitation amounts average three inches from December through January.

Spring

Spring is known for rapidly changing weather patterns. Temperatures can fall or climb 30 degrees within 24 hours, thanks to series of strong frontal systems combined with hot and cold air masses. Temperatures in the daytime range from the 30s in March, the 40s in April, and around 70 degrees in May. Freezing nighttime lows in the 20s can be observed in March, but nighttime lows will warm up into the 50s by May.

Snow will likely be observed into the middle part of spring. Later in the season, thunderstorms associated with frontal systems occasionally plague Buffalo, and they can be severe with large hail and damaging winds. Precipitation amounts average three inches from March through May.

Summer

Buffalo has generally warm summers that can be humid sometimes. The winds from the Gulf of Mexico can bring high humidity levels, making them relatively uncomfortable for most residents. Throughout the season, temperatures rise in the 80-degree range for highs, and to near 60 degrees as lows. There are a few hot days with 90 degrees or more, happening only three days during the summertime.

Summertime thunderstorms can produce quick heavy downpours, and maybe some hail and destructive winds. Tornadoes have been reported in the Buffalo area in the past years, but they do not happen very often. Summer precipitation amounts can be heavy sometimes, averaging over three inches.

Autumn

Once autumn nears, temperatures will be in the 70s as highs for September, the 60s throughout October, and near 50 degrees in November. A cool autumn airmass can bring the first killing frost of the season to Buffalo sometime in mid October. Precipitation amounts can be quite heavy, averaging to near four inches.

Buffalo has four distinct seasons. Winter is snowy, spring is relatively cool, summer is warm, and autumn is pleasantly mild. This particular climate is experienced throughout most of the state of New York, as well as much of the northeastern United States.

Notes: Temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit. The precipitation and temperature climate data are from the Greater Buffalo International Airport.

Source

National Weather Service Climate - Buffalo, NY

www.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=buf

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