Variance is the bastard of life. The Metro needs almost a perfect wind so it's not that surprising it doesn't get that many big events. South Cheektowaga and West Seneca are close to the metro but just that little bit gives them a lot more flexibility which only keeps increasing the further south you go until you hit ski country
While Erie isn't crazy deep like the other lakes but it's still 200 feet deep out by long point and while a lot of the western parts will ice up pretty fast it takes a awhile longer to freeze the eastern side in the higher depth parts.
I believe you posted back in the Nov 2014 storm thread some pictures and one was you shoveling that really showed just how much all the snow compacted(if not you someone did lol). I plow parking lots by south cheektowaga/west seneca area and it was just crazy how I could look at some places I didn't do at all just trying to keep open what I needed to keep up and compare it to what I plowed earlier. I knew the snow compacted on its own weight but that really showed me just how much it can
I personally can't stand that because you end up getting nothing but blowing snow making it pretty terrible for driving. I have no clue if they get as much wind in NE making it not so much of a issue
lake Erie was 41 back in 2001 when Buffalo got those insane multiple days of lake effect and right now Erie sits at 40 but with this warm weather might bump it up to 41 or keep it even at 40 by Christmas. Dec might be a little disappointing but the Lake is still plenty warm for some big time bands in Jan
Very strange since I just looked and the official water temp at buffalo and it has been 43 since Nov 27th and today went to 44. The temp is also measured at 30 feet so I have no idea what is going on with that graph.
The 90+ weather doesn't agree with me at all but look on the bright side come fall/winter when we have a nice warm lake primed for some nice lake effect. I think Erie is close to record temps at 74, 75 being the record I believe.