A low pressure system strengthened over the mid-Mississippi valley, moved to the Virginias, then tracked northeast along the Atlantic coast. The late season storm produced ten to twenty inches of heavy, wet snow across much of the region. The snow began across the western southern tier around daybreak on the 16th and during the morning hours across the Niagara frontier and western Finger Lakes region. The snow continued, heavy at times, throughout the day and then began to taper off at midnight. Many schools and businesses heeded warnings, closed on the 16th and remained closed on the 17th. The storm was blamed for numerous automobile accidents, including several fatalities. Specific storm totals included: 23" at Nunda; 19" at Hamburg; 16" at Ellicottville and West Seneca; 15" at Cheektowaga, Walworth and Warsaw; 14" at Dansville, Portageville, South Dayton and South Wales; 13" at Forestville, Amherst, Clarence and Livonia; 12" at North Tonawanda, Elma, Lancaster and Frewsburg; 11" at Randolph, Depew, Alden, Grand Island, Fairport and Palmyra; 10" at Scottsville, Stockton and Constantia; 9" at Lockport, West Monroe, Pittsford, Webster, Springwater and Jamestown; and 8" at Niagara Falls and East  Oswego.

Heavy Snow in ALLEGANY, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 14:30:00 to 17-MAR-04 01:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in ONTARIO, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 16:00:00 to 17-MAR-04 04:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 300K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in LIVINGSTON, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 16:40:00 to 17-MAR-04 04:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 300K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in CHAUTAUQUA, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 15:15:00 to 16-MAR-04 23:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in NIAGARA, NEW YORK
From 17-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 17-MAR-04 10:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WAYNE, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 19:00:00 to 17-MAR-04 06:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in SOUTHERN ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 19:35:00 to 17-MAR-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 250K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in MONROE, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 22:40:00 to 17-MAR-04 06:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 500K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in GENESEE, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 18:01:00 to 17-MAR-04 04:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in CATTARAUGUS, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 21:55:00 to 17-MAR-04 00:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WYOMING, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 22:00:00 to 17-MAR-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 300K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 18:10:00 to 17-MAR-04 04:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 250K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in ORLEANS, NEW YORK
From 16-MAR-04 18:35:00 to 17-MAR-04 06:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 150K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN CAYUGA, NEW YORK
From 17-MAR-04 02:15:00 to 17-MAR-04 09:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in OSWEGO, NEW YORK
From 17-MAR-04 05:00:00 to 17-MAR-04 10:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 150K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER