Buffalo, NY - If you haven't noticed yet... it's November and we're dealing with rain, not snow. In fact this month there hasn't really been any measurable snowfall here in Buffalo.
Weather experts at the National Weather Service told 2 On Your Side that we should have seen at least 8 inches of snow during the month of November. For the past 30 years, its been the yearly average.
This time last year, holiday shoppers dealt with colder temperatures and a few inches of snow and slush on the ground. On Sunday, a completely different picture as temperatures reached the 62 degree mark even in the rain.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Kirk Apffel said the last time Buffalo had a warmer than normal November was back in 2009.
On record there's been 4 warm months of November dating back to 1899 that didn't have any recordable snowfall. Apffel explained what's behind this weather pattern.
"We've had a persistent ridge in the northeastern part of the United States. We've had above normal temperatures during this time and below normal rainfall and that's just been a persistent pattern that lasted the entire month," said Apffel.
Cindy Eyler, a former Buffalo resident back in the city for the Thanksgiving Holiday marveled at just how warm the temperature has been.
"Its great to be on Chippewa and you know have my coat open in late November. Its wonderful," said Eyler.
Janice Vitch of Lewiston summed it up this way, "It feels like fall has gone on for about 4 or 5 months."
Lake Erie is also slightly warmer than usual. Apffel said Sunday's lake temperatures were around 48 degrees. Normally its around 45 degrees this time of month.
Lake Erie is also slightly warmer than usual. Apffel said Sunday's lake temperatures were around 48 degrees. Normally its around 45 degrees this time of month.
When asked if the current warm weather pattern will affect the lake as far as lake effect activity, he replied, "There's no sharp correlation between the lake temperature and how much snow we're going to get or this late start for the matter. So just because we, we had a slow start doesn't mean that it's going to be bad or particularly good later in the season."
Accumulating snowfall is expected later next week. Apffel says if we do make it to December 3rd without any measurable snow in Buffalo this will be the 6th time in recorded history of no real snow in November.