Where's the snow? Buffalo has never gone this long without seeing snowflakes

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – While much of Western New York saw its first coating of snow this week, warmer temperatures near the metro area meant Buffalo only received rain. That extended an unusual streak in the city known for snow.

Officially, the city of Buffalo has not seen any snow yet this season. Never in Buffalo's recorded history has the city gone longer without receiving its first snowfall ... though residents aren't exactly complaining.

The latest "first flake" of the year, as recorded by the National Weather Service, occurred on November 22 in both 1946 and 1985. With no snow blowing by the Buffalo Niagara International Airport this week, and 40-degree temperatures on tap for the weekend, the city is set to shatter that mark (with each record coincidentally coming 39 years apart).

"This doesn't mean we won't get snow this year," News 4 meteorologist Mike Doyle said. "We still managed to get close to average snowfall or even above-average season-long totals in year's we've started late."

Buffalo's record for latest first "measurable" snow, defined as 0.1 inches or more, is December 18 (2015), and the record for latest first inch of snow is January 2 (1933). We aren't likely to break those records, according to Doyle, who noted long-range forecasts indicate a chance for snowfall late next week.

Buffalo's warm fall has kept Lake Erie very warm, too. The water temperature was 52 degrees on Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service, which takes its unofficial measurements at a depth of 30 feet near the Water Treatment Plant. The listed the record high for this date is 54 degrees and the average is 47 degrees.

"The warmer our lakes are, the greater the chance for heavy lake-effect snow," Doyle said. "If the lakes don't freeze, that leaves the door open for more lake snow events."

Stay tuned to our 4Warn Weather forecast for updates on potential snowfall next week and the Thanksgiving holiday forecast.