Surviving winter in Buffalo

One night in 2006, temperatures dropped nearly ten degrees over two hours, frozen rain turned into hail and more than two feet of snow dropped on Buffalo.

This didn't happen in January or February, or even November or December. The date of this storm was Oct. 12 — that's right, mid-October.

Every year at Buffalo State there are new freshmen and transfer students who've never dealt with a Buffalo winter.

As a Buffalo boy, born and bred, I'm here to make sure that the new folks can survive a winter in a place known for it's brutal weather. Read this, and you won't end up snowed in, iced out or anything in between.

The biggest obstacle you'll face is the snow. Buffalo averages more than 93 inches of snow per year since 1940.  The average temperature is around 27 degrees, though it's always lower at night. Other winter wonderlands, like Minnesota or Colorado, are much colder than Buffalo. What makes our winters wondrous is the snow we get from Lake Erie.

So how can you combat the snow?

Use common sense. If there's snow on the ground, wear something appropriate on your feet. If it's cold outside, wear something warm.

That's simple enough, but there are other things you can do to beat the weather.

A plastic shovel costs all of $3. Buy one and throw it in the back of your car. You're going to get stuck in snow at some point; it happens to everybody. Unless you've got a really good friend with four-wheel drive and a towrope, the shovel is your best friend.

Next, always have an extra blanket or jacket in your car. Part of the whole getting stuck thing is that you might get caught somewhere you weren't planning on being. Yea, usually you'll be able to get somewhere warm or have your cell phone on you, but again, it can't hurt.

The toughest thing about Buffalo's winter weather is probably driving in the snow. If you've never driven through the fluff, please stay away from me on your first try. There's nothing like it, and even the most experienced winter wizards will slip up on snowy roads.

If you're not comfortable with it, slow down. You'd rather take extra time getting somewhere than end up in a ditch on the side of the road or smashed into another car or guardrail.

Finally, make sure you've got gas in your car. Snow means slow, and traffic is going to get backed up, whether it's because of a flurry, whiteout or accident. You're going to have your heat blasting. Don't skimp on your gas tank. The first time you're debating on whether or not you can reach your destination this winter with the little gas you've got in your tank, fill it up and thank me later.

So take it from a guy who's lived here for over 20 years and still continues to break these rules — play it on the safe side and you'll be alright.

Mike Meiler can be reached by email at meiler.record@live.com.