3/34/91
NYZ007-008-011-018 St. Lawrence Valley, Eastern Adirondacks, Champlain Valley, Western
Adirondacks (Freezing Rain)--St. Lawrence County was part of the central New York area that
was hard hit by a major ice storm. More than 9000 homes were without power, 60 automobile
accidents were reported, mail delivery halted, all schools and colleges were closed for several
days, and businesses were shut down. Elsewhere in the Adirondacks, the ice presented fewer and
more scattered problems. The storm built in intensity through Sunday night. By Monday morn-
ing, more than 2 in. of ice had accumulated in some low-lying areas. In higher elevations the
freezing rain was reported to have changed to snow before ending on Monday.
3/34/91
NYZ002 Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Yates, and Livingston Counties NYZ004 Lewis, Oswego, and
Jefferson Counties NYZ003 Steuben County NYZ022 Allegheny and Cattaraugus Counties
NYZ021 Orleans County NYZ001 Wyoming and Genesee Counties (Ice Storm, Heavy Snow,
Ice)--A devastating ice storm paralyzed a large section of western and portions of northern New
York. The freezing rain began during the late afternoon of Sunday the 3rd, continuing through
the morning of the 4th. The ice coated trees and power lines and sent them crashing to the ground
along with utility poles and transformers. There were also numerous reports of structural damage
from the weight of the ice. Ice buildups ranged from 1 to 2 in. over the hardest-hit areas. Over
the western fringes of the storm area, the coating of ice was followed by 4 to 6 in. of heavy, wet
snow. At its peak, nearly 325,000 customers were without electricity. Virtually all schools and
businesses were shut down Monday and Tuesday (March 4th and 5th) in the affected areas. In the
cities of Rochester and Watertown, schools were closed for the entire week. High water in flood-
ed basements was commonplace when sump pumps were unable to work due to power failures.
Governor Mario Cuomo declared 18 counties state disaster areas. State agencies were authorized
to provide manpower and equipment in helping residents affected by the storm. Utility crews
were brought in from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Canada to aid in the restoration of power, which
was not accomplished until March 16th. President Bush signed an order declaring 12 counties
federal disaster areas. It was the most costly natural disaster in the history of New York State.
3/3/91
Vermont Statewide (Freezing Rain)--Freezing and brief periods of sleet, snow, fog, and rain
made a mess of Vermont celebration of 200 years of Statehood. Power crews across the state
were kept busy for several days repairing power lines. A 30-month-old girl and her 5-year-old
sister were rescued from near drowning after a car accident which sent their vehicle into the
river. Police blamed the accident on icy roads. Portions of Interstate 89 were closed to traffic.
3/4/91
Maine mez00-002-003-005-006-007-009-010-012 All But Coastal Maine (Freezing Rain)--On
the 3rd of March, a cold front moved south through New England. A large Arctic high-pressure
system moved east from the Great Lakes area through southeastern Canada. Meanwhile, a low-
pressure system over Georgia was moving northeast. The Georgia low intensified and moved up
the coast as cold air continued to flow into northern New England from the circulation around
the Arctic high. By the time the precipitation arrived in northern New England, enough cold air
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