Rochester Storm Aftermath: Here's what you need to know
Hold the snow rake.
Storm totals weren't as high as we thought in Rochester, but only by a fifth of an inch.
The storm blasted up the East Coast this week, providing much of our area with its biggest snowfall of the winter while shutting down schools, many businesses and most government offices.
Here is what you need to know:
The latest totals
The late-season snowstorm continued to dump snow in the area into Wednesday evening. The National Weather Service in Buffalo reported a total of 26.5 inches had fallen at the Greater Rochester International Airport since the storm started late Monday. The 16.2 inches that was recorded at the airport Tuesday in Rochester set a record for March 14. The previous record, 8.2 inches, was set in 1993. Wednesday's snow total of 9.9 inches fell far short of March 15's 101-year-old daily record of 14 inches.
The Weather Service previously reported that 26.7 inches fell throughout the storm and that the brunt of the snow fell Tuesday. Both of those figures were slightly off after some figures were added in twice, according to the Weather Service.
Elsewhere in the region, 30.1 inches of snow fell in Macedon, Wayne County, and 27 inches fell in Fairport, according to the Weather Service. Additional snowfall totals are expected Thursday.
►Snowfall totals for Rochester area
►Database shows records snowfall, temps
How many people are affected?
Throughout the storm, the area was either under a winter storm winter storm warning or advisory. The entirety of area was under some form of weather alert during the storm.
Closings and Travel
The storm closed schools for two days and prompted dire warnings from county and city officials to stay off the roads. Several area colleges and city and town offices were closed during the storm.
Most schools are back open Thursday. Several schools in Ontario County are on a two-hour delay Thursday. Calvary Chapel Academy in Ontario County remained closed.
“Mother Nature decided to test us and once again our city proved its resiliency and ability to come together in the wake of great challenges," Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said in a news release Thursday. "After the city saw almost 30 inches of snow in 48 hours, they worked through the night to make sure Rochester was open for business this morning."
City workers on Thursday continue to clear snow from hard-to-plow streets. (And residents should clear off cars and move them from side streets to expedite snow removal.)
On Thursday morning, the Rochester chapter of the American Red Cross closed it's final two emergency shelters, which had been operating since March 9 following the windstorm.
The "no unnecessary travel advisory" was lifted at 5 a.m. Thursday for Monroe and Wayne counties and Monroe County's Emergency Operations Center, which has been operational since last week's windstorm, was deactivated.
►Snow days all around, but they aren't free
Major roadways Thursday morning have been cleared, although there may be some slick spots in some areas.
Why Stella?
Because The Weather Channel said so. No other private firms, nor the weather service, use this name. The Weather Channel is calling the system Stella as part of its winter storm naming system.
►Rochester, Northeast show reslience during storm
The not-so-friendly skies
Tuesday was the worst travel day from the storm, which forced the cancellation of more than 8,800 flights in the Northeast - Cancelling or delaying numerous flights to and from Rochester. The majority of flights are on schedule at the airport Thursday.
What happens next?
The dig out will continue Thursday as sidewalks and side streets need to be cleared, and cars to be dug out of snow piled high by plows.
And while the snow may have stopped, the cold temperatures will remain.
Local government officials asked that neighbors and relatives check on conditions for the elderly, that snow be removed from fire hydrants and that any shoveling is done with care and breaks to reduce risk of heart attacks and injuries.
A second blast of arctic air will keep the eastern half of the nation in its clutches for the rest of the week. The storm comes about a week after the area saw a devastating windstorm blew through the area.
Nearly 700 Rochester Gas and Electric customers lost power as of 10:15 a.m. Monday. It was not immediately known how long those properties were without power.
Weather Service Meteorologist David Thomas said Rochesterians should expect a breezy day Thursday that could cause snow to drift into roadways and make for tricky driving conditions.
Wayne County residents may get another inch or so of snow tonight, he said. And the Rochester region could see a rain/snow mix late Friday or early Saturday. That combination will likely create a glaze over the snowpack that should help keep powdery snow from blowing or drifting, Thomas said.
Temperatures locally are expected to be in the low 30s Thursday, and into the upper 30s Friday.
COMPLETE STORM COVERAGE
►Snowfall totals for Rochester area
►Skiers take advantage of storm
►Remember to clear fire hydrants, sidewalks
►Irondequoit struggles to keep up
►Snow days all around, but they aren't free
►RG&E's lists unreliable, say customers without power
►Our man in Florida: Feeling sorry for him?
►Wind, snow take their toll on small businesses
►What to binge-watch while you're home
►A brief history of March snowstorms
►Why it's called heart-attack snow
►Monthly snowfall totals in Rochester area
►Photos from the Blizzard of 1993
Contributing: Bart Jansen, USA TODAY; Associated Press