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Buffalo Escapes Heavy Lake Effect Snow Storm

By Mark Scott

Buffalo, NY – The severe lake effect snow storm that the National Weather Service had forecast for the region did not materialize late Friday and early Saturday.

There were intermittent periods of heavy snow late Friday afternoon and evening. But meteorologists say well-defined lake effect bands never developed.

"We have the perfect wind direction and [atmospheric] instability," meteorologist Dave Sage told the Buffalo News. "It's not a good situation out there, but it's not as exciting as we thought it would be. We'd expected to see something well-formed by right now."

Still, some areas did see significant accumulations. Ten inches were recorded in Clarence. At least seven inches fell in Elma.

The threat of severe weather had led to the closing of Buffalo public, charter and parochial schools Friday. Many suburban school districts had canceled evening events and activities.

The snow was responsible for several spin-out accidents and collisions during Friday's rush hour.

The National Weather Service continued a lake effect snow warning through the day Saturday. Two to four inches of additional snow could fall.

Forecasters say there could be some snow for Saturday night's nationally televised Buffalo Bills game against the Denver Broncos at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard is urging fans to leave early for the game.

"When you couple bad weather with the last home game of the season, and a sell out crowd, then you have potential for some real problems," Howard told the News.