One Year Ago This Week, The Buffalo Blizzard of 2022

What a difference a year can make. While Buffalo and Western New York are on the verge of experiencing a green Christmas Holiday, it was just one short year ago today when Winter Storm Elliott blew into Buffalo and brought with it the deadliest storm that has ever hit Western New York.

When it was all said and done, the storm that we call the Buffalo Blizzard of 2022 left a trail of death and destruction all across the region.

Buffalo Blizzard of 2022 Timeline

The first precipitation of the Buffalo Blizzard actually started as rain. Just under 1/10th of an inch of lake effect rain fell on Thursday, December 22, 2022, before it converted to snow. The snowfall was relatively light on the 22nd; those conditions changed significantly as Friday, December 23, 2022, rolled around.

Read More: Buffalo Blizzard of 2022 Snowfall Totals

By 9 am on Friday, December 23, 2022, Buffalo was experiencing a full-blown blizzard. There was a complete whiteout with zero visibility in several locations around the region. From that point forward, it would snow for more than 37 consecutive hours. The blizzard, which had exceeded 60 miles per hour for the duration, was on until 1 am on Sunday, December 25, 2022. There was a brief reprieve in the blizzard before the snow, and winds kicked up again at 5 am. The blizzard was on again until 7 am on Monday, December 26, 2022.

Watch: Watch Incredible Rescue During Buffalo Blizzard

The blizzard dumped more than 4 feet of snow, and the hurricane-force winds left snow drifts 8 feet tall all over the city.

Conditions were so bad that emergency services had to be halted, thousands of people lost power during the storm, and the National Guard had to be called in to help restore order.

Read More: Buffalo Blizzard Death Toll at 47

This storm also proved to be the deadliest storm in Western New York history, as nearly four dozen people lost their lives as a result of the storm.

It took several days for Buffalo to dig out, for emergency services to be restored, and for people to have their power restored.

Is Buffalo Ready For The Next Major Winter Storm

Since this deadly storm left its mark on Western New York, officials have been hard at work formulating plans to make sure people and governments are better prepared for the next one.

The aftermath of this once-in-a-lifetime storm has taught many people to make sure they're ready.