BUFFALO, N.Y. — The first indication that May could take a colder turn came in mid-April as long range temperature outlooks and computer models hinted at blocking pattern over the Northeast that would keep temperatures below average. And after the ninth warmest winter on record for Buffalo, this cold came to set the record straight and break a few of its own for May.
It all started with a Freeze Watch that was issued on Sunday, May 3 ahead of the first anticipated cold morning for Tuesday, May 5. Since then, seven cold weather alerts, such as Frost Advisories or Freeze Warnings, have been issued for Western New York. This includes three consecutive Frost Advisories from May 11 through 13.
These weather alerts were naturally signs that unseasonably cold air was on the way. Its strength would eventually bring record cold and snow to the region as well. As of May 13, there have been three mornings with record-tying low temperatures and three days with snow accumulations this month. Here's a day-by-day breakdown of those records:
Friday, May 8, 2020: a trace of snow was recorded at the end of the day.
Saturday, May 9, 2020: the morning's low temperature of 29 degrees tied the daily record low temperature that was set back in 1947. In addition, snow accumulated to 0.3 inches that day, and while no records were broken with this much snow for May 9, the last measurable snow in May for Buffalo was back in 1989.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020: the morning's low temperature of 31 degrees tied the daily record low temperature that was set back in 1907. The day's trace snowfall also tied the daily record snowfall set back in 2013.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020: the morning's low temperature of 30 degrees tied the daily record low temperature of 30 degrees set back in 1895.
Note that official records are kept and based on conditions at the Buffalo Airport.
And Storm Team 2 will be on record watch again Thursday as Frost Advisories and Freeze Warnings are in place with morning low temperatures expected to be near freezing again.
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