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Southwest NY affords people the opportunity to enjoy all four seasons. Each is distinct with differences in temperature and precipitation. High temperatures in the summer may reach 90, but are generally moderated by the cooler Great Lakes and hover in the mid 70’s and low 80’s. The opposite extreme is the winter cold. Winter temperatures may dip below zero, but generally the area is warmed, again by the Great Lakes system. Winter temperatures are usually in the 20’s and low 30’s. The average January temperature at Allegany State Park is about 21 degrees, in July the average high is 80.
Precipitation varies greatly across the region, especially in winter. On average the area receives a moderate amount of precipitation each year, seeing 40-50 inches of rainfall and a variable amount of snowfall. In the eastern portions of the region, away from the lakes and into the Appalachian Mountains, snowfall amounts are lesser than they are along the lakeshore snow belts. In the most notorious snow belt areas, up to 200 inches may fall in a year. In other areas it will be less than 50”. Snow may be seen in the air as early as October, but it doesn’t generally stay until mid to late November. By late February the snow has begun to disappear either through melting or evaporation, and by late March it is generally gone. The growing season lasts from late May or early June, depending on what is planted, until September.
In spring time everything turns green and the flowers bloom. Temperatures begin to warm, all the snow is generally gone and the warm spring rains fall. This is the wettest time of year and the creeks, streams, and rivers are at their highest.
When summer comes the temperatures are higher still and the night time temperatures remain steadier. Crops grow and the lawn needs mowing. Precipitation is at its lowest for the year, making warm sunny days and pleasant nights.
During the fall the temperatures begin to cool. The first frost brings the end to the growing season. The leaves on the trees turn all sorts of colors as the days grow shorter. Precipitation amounts are moderate, and consist mostly of rain, though later in fall some snow will fall.
With winter comes the snow. Depending on the exact location in the region, the average occurrence of a white Christmas is about 70%. The ground freezes in winter to a depth of about 30”. Most lakes, streams, and rivers freeze over. Lake Erie freezes over about 60% of the time, but the majority of it is covered every year. Local lakes will have ice that can be 4-5 feet thick in places. Snow falls across the region, with more in the lake affect areas. The warm, open waters of Lake Erie and sometimes Lake Ontario allow winds passing over the lakes to draw up considerable amounts of moisture to create snow clouds that drop the moisture as snow once they pass over land.
It is because of the climate that Southwest NY is diverse in many ways, in amenities, in activities, in culture. Come discover what four seasons are really like living in.
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