Rochester's weird winter: See the surprising 2022-23 snowfall total, temperatures

As another Rochester winter wraps up, statistics from the National Weather Service in Buffalo show what has been apparent for months. In a region known for its snowy, bitter-cold winters filled with lake effect snow, the winter of 2022-23 will likely be remembered for the snow that did not materialize.

How much snow did Rochester NY get this year?

Winter doesn't officially start until December, but wintry weather often starts sooner with flakes flying in Rochester as early as October. Seasonal snow totals for Rochester through March 26 tallied 49.4 inches, according to Weather Service records. On average, Rochester gets around 100 inches of snow each winter, more than twice the amount of snow that fell this season.

Last year, the 2021-22 season tallied 87 inches of snow, in which the snowiest month by far was January's 34.4 inches of snow. The least snowy winter on record was in 1932-33, when only 29.2 inches fell.

If no additional snow fell this winter season, this winter would be the sixth least snowy Rochester winter on record, according to the Weather Service. Measurable snow, though, often falls in Rochester in April and can even fly as late as May, forecasters said.

Buffalo, Rochester experience opposite extremes in winter snowfall

Buffalo, in comparison, endured two record-breaking snowstorms this winter including a late December blizzard that brought more than four feet of snow and in which more than 40 people died.

To date, the seasonal snowfall is historic, with 133.3 inches of snow. Even with that much snow, this season is currently Buffalo's fifth snowiest on record. Buffalo's snowiest winter brought nearly 200 inches of snow in 1976-77, according to the Weather Service.

Temperatures higher than normal in Rochester NY

In March, the average temperature in Rochester is currently 34.7 degrees. To date, more than half of the March's days have averaged 33 degrees or warmer, with the warmest last Wednesday with an average temperature of 46 degrees, according to the Weather Service.

In February, the average temperature in Rochester was 4.4 degrees above the month's 27.4 degree average temperature. The January average temperature was also higher than normal - 6.6 degrees about the month's average temperature of 26.6 degrees.

Rochester was not alone in feeling warmer temperatures this winter. According weather data complied by Climate Central, February temperatures were the warmest on record for more than 1.9 million people in eight cities across the U.S.

As the globe heats up due to climate change, winter is the fastest warming season for three-quarters of the nearly 250 U.S. locations (and temperature data) analyzed by Climate Central. Nearly all of the locations (97%) saw an average winter temperature increase since 1970, with the most tallied in the Great Lakes region and northeastern U.S.

This winter 'was just insane'

Joe Cutter, who operates a lawn care and snow plowing business based out of Pittsford, said that this winter's weather "was just insane."

"The hardest part was the lack of legit snow and having such a ball of mystery - not knowing what (the weather) was going to do," Cutter said.

Plowing mostly-wet snow is a challenge, he said, since it strains the snow removal equipment with its extra weight and the sloppy slush takes longer to clear, he said. Roughly 80% of Cutter's customers pay by the season while the rest pay per plow trip. Cutter said he plowed his residential customers 3 or 4 times and his commercial customers 10 times this winter. Regarding those who pay per trip, Cutter said he is "definitely leaving some money on the table."

'Thank goodness for snowmaking'

"Every year brings new challenges," said Dan Fuller, owner of the Bristol Mountain Ski Resort in Ontario County. "But thank goodness for snowmaking."

The ski resort opened its slopes before Thanksgiving and intends to wrap up the season in early April, he said, but was never able to open all 39 trails on the mountain this season. Much of the snow on the mountain was manmade from Bristol's 140+ snow guns.

Much of the natural snow that fell was in 1 to 2 inch spurts here and there, outside two decent snowstorms in March that covered the mountain with 8 and 10 inches, respectively.

Last winter, the resort tallied around 240,000 skier visits. He said he expects a far lower tally for the 2022-23 season, though it has not yet been counted. While the resort was a frequent destination for core customers - including annual passholders and student athletes - Fuller said he did not see as many skiers who come just once or twice a season.

"Out biggest challenge was maintaining great ski conditions on the mountain," while coping with the winter's repeated thaw-freeze cycles and extended warm weather, Fuller said.

The Links at Greystone in Walworth, Wayne County, has offered snow tubing since 2020 and is currently wrapping up its fourth winter season. To date, about 21,000 people have gone tubing this season, which opened in late December, in time for the holiday break, said Alex Odenbach, Greystone's general manager.

In comparison, he said, that first full season in 2021 drew more than 27,000 tubers, in which patrons needed to book at least a week in advance in order to secure a spot each weekend. This season, he said, tubing sessions were not selling out, but are busy. Most bookings are last minute, he said.

"The demand has changed since people have more to do and are going on vacations again," Odenbach said, noting that the weather is also a factor in winter sports. "When people don't see snow outside their homes or on the way to work, they forget we exist. It can be frustrating."

January - when only 8.6 inches of snow fell in Rochester and highs reached into the 40s for a dozen days - was rough, he said. But demand increased once more accumulating snow fell and stayed in mid-to late-February, he said.

The golf course has four snow makers and two groomers. While making and maintaining snow for the slope was not a problem, it was tough to maintain and move enough snow for the foot path and lift area, he said.

"I think just about everyone is mentally moving on to spring activities and warm vacations," he said.

'I know some were disappointed with the lack of snow'

"When in Rochester's history was the lack of snow ever an issue?" asked Bob Duffy, president and CEO of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. "It has been a very mild winter, and while I have not complained or heard others complain, I know some were disappointed with the lack of snow."

But Duffy said he didn't see a large economic impact due to the mild winter. If anything, he said, there was less of a chance for snow- and ice-related accidents and less hefty heating and utility bills due to stretches of warmer weather in the traditionally bitter-cold months.

While some winter activities - like snowmobiling, ice fishing and sledding - were nearly nonexistent this year, Duffy said it did not appear to negatively impact tourism. On a recent drive through the Finger Lakes, Duffy said many tourist destinations had full parking lots.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester NY weather: Winter 2022-23 snowfall totals and temperatures