Buffalo's snowy reputation stays intact with snowstorm

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Bernie Dolan wiped the snow off his car after Christmas Eve mass and gave a qualified endorsement.

"I'd love a white Christmas -- if it'd stop right now," he said. "They're talking about a foot of snow. That's a little too white."

Too white, indeed. By midday Tuesday 25.2 inches of snow had fallen at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, the National Weather Service said.

The airport had to shut down Monday evening because of heavy snow and poor visibility, diverting flights to Rochester. It was still closed at midday Tuesday.

Despite Buffalo's reputation for heavy snow fed by moisture from Lake Erie, it was a last-minute white Christmas for the city. Before Christmas Eve, it had collected only 1.6 inches of snow, compared with 80 inches during the same period last year.

"If there was a time for this to happen, it's now," said weather service meteorologist Steve McLaughlin. "I guess Santa will be very happy."

It was the first time on record that the city got no snow in November, and temperatures even topped 60 degrees in early December.

"We've had a nice fall, but now we're going to have to pay for it," Don McMahon said as he left Christ the King Church in suburban Amherst.

The 25.2 inches of snow was Buffalo's third heaviest 24-hour snowfall on record.