Surface low pressure advanced from the Ohio Valley toward central New York. Model guidance waffled all over with the track of this system in the days before its arrival, eventually placing the low on a more southerly track. This resulted in widespread snow across the area rather than a mix, and it also yielded an extended period of west-northwesterly flow lake effect snow in its wake. Because of a lack of cold air outbreaks during the course of the winter, both Lake Erie and Ontario were nearly ice free, resulting in heavy snow squalls with very gusty conditions across the Southern Tier and Tug Hill regions. Widespread accumulations of 2-3 feet occurred east of Lake Ontario with 1-2 feet common east of Lake Erie. Selected specific snow accumulations include 8.9 inches in Lockport, 31.2 inches in Redfield, 48 inches in Carthage, 28.5 inches in Copenhagen, 14.5 inches in Warsaw, 12.5 inches in Jamestown, 20.3 inches in Perrysburg, and 25 inches in Springville. Selected wind gusts included measured gusts of 62 mph at Fredonia, 60 mph at Oswego, 60 mph at Watertown, and 56 mph at Hamburg.
In addition to snow and wind, lakeshore flooding with the passage of the system became a problem on Lake Erie. The biggest seiche of the month occurred during the event, bringing the lake level up to nearly 7.5 feet above low water datum at Buffalo on the 27th.

Lake-Effect Snow in OSWEGO, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 07:00:00 to 29-FEB-20 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Lake-Effect Snow in JEFFERSON, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 07:00:00 to 29-FEB-20 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Lake-Effect Snow in LEWIS, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 07:00:00 to 29-FEB-20 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Lake-Effect Snow in WYOMING, NEW YORK
From 26-FEB-20 22:00:00 to 29-FEB-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Lake-Effect Snow in CHAUTAUQUA, NEW YORK
From 26-FEB-20 22:00:00 to 29-FEB-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Lake-Effect Snow in CATTARAUGUS, NEW YORK
From 26-FEB-20 22:00:00 to 29-FEB-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Lake-Effect Snow in SOUTHERN ERIE, NEW YORK
From 26-FEB-20 22:00:00 to 29-FEB-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Blizzard in CHAUTAUQUA, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 18:47:00 to 27-FEB-20 21:47:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Blizzard in ALLEGANY, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 19:26:00 to 27-FEB-20 22:26:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in SOUTHERN ERIE, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 19:00:00 to 28-FEB-20 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Blizzard in CATTARAUGUS, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 19:00:00 to 28-FEB-20 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Blizzard in WYOMING, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 19:00:00 to 28-FEB-20 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Blizzard in JEFFERSON, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 07:11:00 to 28-FEB-20 00:51:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in LEWIS, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 19:56:00 to 27-FEB-20 23:51:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in OSWEGO, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 10:00:00 to 27-FEB-20 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Lakeshore Flood in NORTHERN ERIE, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 08:18:00 to 27-FEB-20 22:42:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Minor flooding of Route 5, Cayuga Island, and Grand Island was reported.

Lakeshore Flood in SOUTHERN ERIE, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 08:18:00 to 27-FEB-20 22:42:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Minor flooding of Route 5, Cayuga Island, and Grand Island was reported.

Lakeshore Flood in CHAUTAUQUA, NEW YORK
From 27-FEB-20 08:18:00 to 27-FEB-20 22:42:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Minor flooding in the Dunkirk harbor was reported.

Winter Storm in NIAGARA, NEW YORK
From 26-FEB-20 22:00:00 to 27-FEB-20 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer