At 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2000, snow began to fall in downtown Buffalo. Though skies were dark, snow was intermittent before intensifying after noon.
The afternoon commute was snarled by intense lake-effect snow squalls, and a slow commute home for workers and schoolchildren was soon brought to a standstill as vehicles were abandoned.
Thousands of downtown workers spent the night marooned in the places of business, and about 2,000 children slept on floors and chairs at their schools, not their homes, wrote Buffalo News reporters John F. Bonfatti and Mike Vogel.
The Thruway was closed and driving bans were instituted in Buffalo and Amherst. By 9 p.m., Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello declared a state of emergency in the city.
By the morning of Nov. 21, 24.9 inches of snow had been logged at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Despite all the chaos, there were no reports of serious injuries.
Read the stories (and a photo gallery) about the storm reported in the Buffalo News, and see photos our front pages at the time of the storm below.
• WNY taken by storm
• Snowstorm raised anxiety level and put patience to the test
• Stuck, stalled and stranded: Travelers find sanctuary downtown
• Stuck at work with a mission and a tuna sandwich
• Storm refugees find comfort in taverns
• Hospitals cope – but not easily
• Snow aside, many cheer the effort
• Drivers challenge: Find your vehicle
• Storms of yesteryear pile up the memories
• Time to winterize: Area motorists got wake-up call from snowstorm
• Leaders refining plan for next big hit
• From election deadlock to storm gridlock, a November to remember
• Photos: The November storm of 2000
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As one can read in this article at the bottom of the front page of the Nov. 20, 2000, edition of The Buffalo News, which focused more on snow totals from the weekend before, the amount of snow about to hit Buffalo was not expected.
The front page of the Buffalo News on Nov. 21, 2000.
The front page of The Buffalo News’ City and Region section on Nov. 21, 2000.
Source: www.dailyprogress.com