It seems that winter has targeted the Chautauqua Ridge this year, with storm after storm burying the area with lake effect snow. According to Dr. Lin Baylis, Executive Director of Community Connections at Findley Lake, as of Jan. 18, a total of 182″ of snow has fallen.

A mural painted on the side of the Findley Lake Fire Hall shows a newspaper that declares the average yearly snowfall to be 210 inches. There’s a good chance this will be reached before the end of January. “Only another 28 inches to go,” Baylis said. “There is a weather watch posted that mentions another weather event (this week) for heavy lake effect snow, so we will see.”

Baylis has been keeping track of snowfall amounts since 2001 using a snow box built by Bill Boria, former county water resource specialist at the Chautauqua County Health Department, who started a weather station in Findley Lake.

Baylis said the equipment is hardly scientific. “That would be a snow box and ruler,” she said. “The snow box was built by Bill, according to the weather standards of the time. I measure the snow in the box in each corner and the middle and then take an average.”

The snow did not stop people from turning out for the annual Christmas tree burning in Findley Lake.

Baylis said keeping accurate measurements can be challenging during the big storms. “The box is only 14 inches deep, so it has required measuring multiple times in one 24-hour period to get the most accurate measurement possible,” she said. “I also have to shovel to get to the box during these storms.”

The most recent storm (Monday, January 13 through Thursday, January 16) dumped 26″ on the area. “Although not a scientific way to measure, it is definitely accurate at our house and, hopefully, a service to the community,” Baylis said.

Since she began keeping track of the snowfall, Baylis said the highest was 306 inches which fell in 2009. She does not think this record will be broken this year. “We were at 215 inches by January 15 that year,” she said. “The last measurable snowfall in 2009 was on April 7-8 when 12 inches fell.”

While some Findley Lake residents are thrilled with the snow, you won’t find too many singing “Let It Snow” or “It’s a Marshmallow World in the Winter.” Most people are looking for a thaw and a reprieve from shoveling and snow blowing