As the 179th Erie County Fair began its final weekend, representatives officially unveiled the “Western New York Snow Gauge.” The gauge is a 20 feet high graphic documenting historic Buffalo winter snowfall records. Included are such milestones as the current national record of 199.4” set back in the winter of 1977-78 and the Erie County one day record of 47.5” achieved on November 20, 2014. The Snow Gauge is located on the back wall of the Grandstand near the entrance to Creative Arts.
“We are only eight weeks away from when the word ‘snow’ typically begins to enter into the lexicon of weather forecasters,” said Erie County Fair Marketing Manager Marty Biniasz. “As the ‘Best 12 Days of Summer’ are coming to a close, we pause to celebrate winter and the resiliency of Western New Yorkers shown during all season…especially winter.”
The Fair also took time out of honor and recognize the hardworking men and women of the National Weather Service Office in Buffalo for their tireless around the clock work to keep Western New York safe and informed with their forecasts and warnings.
Judy Levan, Meteorologist in Charge of the National Weather Service Buffalo Office and Mike Fries, Warning Coordination Meteorologist of the Buffalo Office were both presented with industrial grade, BOSS snow shovels in honor of their service.
Levan, a Western New York native, began her career with the National Weather Service in Buffalo as a Student Trainee and worked her way through as a Meteorologist Intern and Journeyman Forecaster to become a Lead Forecaster in 1996. In 2006, she was promoted to Warning Coordination Meteorologist of the Buffalo Forecast Office and 2012 became the Meteorologist in Charge of the Buffalo Office.
Mike Fries, joined the Buffalo Office in March 2018 as the Warning Coordination Meteorologist. A native of Michigan, Fries has been with the National Weather Service for 13 years with positions in Washington, DC, Spokane, WA, and Pittsburgh, PA,
Following the Fair, the “snow gauge” will be moved to a location near 42nd Street in an area visible during the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights. The “Western New York Snow Gauge” is sponsored by General Welding & Fabricating and BOSS snow removal equipment.
