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Delays from spring rain and chill

It has been a slow start to spring with plenty of rain, which has impacted spring planting.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Some boats are finally in the water at the Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo, now that the ice has moved out. But it sure has been a slow start to the warm season.

Lake Erie finally increased to above freezing just last Sunday, with even ice chunks still floating in the Niagara River within the past week.

There has been plenty of rain. In fact, there have only been two dry days in the past two weeks, which has impacted some recreation, but also some industries including several local farms like one in Genesee County.  

"There {are} two plantings here, this week we finally got a dry stretch... and were able to plant," Ben Oles, the co-owner of Oles Family Farm in Alden, said. 

Oles says his farm is about a week delayed with getting some spring crops into the fields, and would normally already be harvesting crops like asparagus this week but that is also delayed.  "Normally by now we'd be picking 100 lbs a day and right there is half a pound walking up and down several rows, so long ways to go for production," Oles said.

But Oles is expecting to have a full crop and should see harvest pick up in the coming weeks especially if there's nice weather.

So just when will we get out of this cooler, wet weather pattern and get a nice warm dry stretch? Well, it looks like won't see a change any time soon, with cooler weather and rain still in the forecast through the end of next week. 

But by Memorial Day weekend we should finally see things shift and get the warm season consistently going.

Keep checking in with Storm Team 2 for updates here.

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