9 Things No One Tells You About Surviving A Buffalo Winter

When outsiders think of Buffalo, they often think of it as a place where the winters and wings are endless. While one of these things is certainly true (give us wings or give us death), the other, thankfully, is not. Contrary to popular opinion, our winters are not everlasting. They are, however, quite complex. Buffalo winters are rough, but they are a part of our reality and truly, they are a part of who we are. Here are 9 things no one tells you about surviving a winter in Buffalo, New York.

1. Downtown Buffalo turns into an arctic wind tunnel.

If you work, live, or frequent the areas of downtown Buffalo, you know exactly what we're talking about. Step 1 to surviving a Buffalo winter: prepare for the chilliest of wind chills.

2. Parking your car along Route 5 is never a good idea.

See Exhibit A: The ice car. Vehicles parked along Route 5 are not spared by the spray of icy water coming off of Lake Erie.

3. It doesn't snow EVERY day.

Take advantage of the days that don't call for snow in the forecast! This will help you both survive and maintain sanity during Buffalo winters.

4. Lake effect snow can take you by surprise. Be prepared!

Even our meteorologists sometimes time our lake effect snowstorms wrong. The "lake effect machine" revs up fast and can produce significant snowfall in record time. One of the first things you'll learn about surviving a Buffalo winter is to always be prepared!

5. It takes a lot to get a snow day in Buffalo.

Try not to get your hopes up about potential snow days around here. The snowfall needs to be intense and perfectly timed to force most Western New York schools to cancel. And an adult snow day from the office? Not likely. But you can still try!

6. The temperature will rise above 30º again.

Repeat after us: it will get warmer. It will get warmer. It will get warmer! Single digit temperatures seem terrible at the time, but warm-ups are usually right behind them (even if warm-ups means 30º).

7. Buffalo drivers don't let snow slow them down.

Another crucial tip to surviving a Buffalo winter: be prepared when hitting the roads! Whether the pavement is dry or completely covered with inches of snow and slush, Buffalo drivers are can't be bothered. If you're not prepared to travel the speed limit during a snowstorm, it might be best to stay home.

8. Despite how it feels, winter doesn't last forever.

We know it might seem endless, but we can assure you that spring is coming. And it will be glorious!

9. Believe it or not, you'll actually look forward to winter!

There's something special about the seasons in Buffalo. They tend to take up space in your heart that you didn't even know existed. The winter-sized space might be a bit smaller than the others, but it's still there, and you will find yourself looking forward to the snowy season even just a little bit come next Fall!

Do you have Buffalo winter survival tips you want to share? Drop a note in the comments so we can spread the word!