Bitter cold blasts North Country

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January 16, 2009

By RICHARD RICHTMYER The Press Republican Fri Jan 16, 2009, 06:06 AM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Temperatures in the North Country dropped to between 20 and 30 degrees below zero overnight. The high today is expected to be around 10 above.

But there was some good news to be found in the frigid weather gripping upstate New York. All the cold air is getting Lake Erie closer to freezing over. When that happens, the lake-effect snow storms — produced by cold winds passing over the warmer water — will decrease significantly.

Steve McLaughlin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo, said about 80 percent of Lake Erie's surface is already frozen, and by this time next week will probably be frozen over entirely.

"We haven't seen it freeze totally since the winter of 2003-2004," McLaughlin said.

The weather service says nine lake-effect storms have hit upstate areas since November, with two of the storms dumping 4-plus feet of snow in the Buffalo area.

The arctic air that moved into the state Wednesday also jammed up the Hudson River, and ice and snow caused delays at some New York City-area airports.

But there were no serious weather-related injuries or deaths reported, and New Yorkers seemed to be coping as best they could.

"You wear a lot of clothes, a T-shirt, four layers of sweat shirts, a fleece and a coat," said Allen Lockrow, who was up before dawn Thursday to deliver fresh food and supplies to restaurants around Albany, where temperatures were in the single digits.

"You stay cold. You get used to it," said Lockrow's co-worker, John Sawyer. "You're basically going to get cold no matter what."

Temperatures around Albany peaked at around 10 degrees Thursday with light winds. Similar temperatures were forecast for Friday, but winds were expected to pick up to between five and 11 mph, driving wind chills down to around minus 13 degrees.

The ice in the waters around Albany's Hudson River port was about an inch thick, but port managers said they expected to accommodate ships with scheduled calls on Friday and Saturday because the Coast Guard was clearing the way.

"The longshoremen might have to dress a little warmer, but we'll still be getting stuff," said port manager Rich Hendrick.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Barbara Patton said there are two icebreakers clearing the shipping channel between New York City and Albany.

The Hudson River ice was thick enough around parts of New York City's northern suburbs to shut down some commuter ferry services earlier this week and keep them closed until early next week. Passengers are taking buses instead.

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Associated Press writers Michael Hill in Albany and Jim Fitzgerald in White Plains contributed to this report.