AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — The calendar says January. All the layers people are wearing show it’s winter. Looking outside though, it doesn’t appear like that at all.
That might be changing soon as the area braces for winter weather. Some people dreading it and others anticipating finally seeing some snow.
“It’s January and it’s the warmest it has ever been in my years living here,” said Marc Ayala from Amherst.
“I’m always used to snow on Christmas,” Jacqueline Alton tells us. “The fact there wasn’t any snow I’m like ugh. It was so disappointing.”
A new month and year on the calendar and still the green grass grows in many parts of our area.
“I’m a full blooded Fin,” said Erik Tervo from Niagara County. “I can tolerate the winter and the cold but I can have a couple winters in the mild side for a change.”
Now that there’s a winter weather advisory, Erik Tervo is among the many people who are finally just now in January preparing for winter to arrive.
“I brought winter tires for the vehicle,” said Tervo showing us his winter wheels. “I needed tires anyways but I got a deal and hopefully I won’t need them!”
“Just the other day, it was like freezing so I came to Walmart and bought a whole bunch of hats and coats,” said Alton. “Usually when it gets colder around this time of year we always stock up on food so we don’t have to go and do extra shopping.”
“We’ve been so blessed with no snow,” said Marsha McWilson. Niagara Falls resident. “I just got windshield wiper blades – the winter ones -and my anti-freeze so I’m ready.”
While he’s preparing anyways, Tervo says after the last two years he is hopeful old man winter steers clear of Western New York this year.
“I have a very long driveway and it would be a daily chore to knock back what came in for the drifting of the snow,” recalls Tervo, thinking about the last two winters. When asked about his hopes for this year… “An early spring,” he replied. “Maybe starting like Groundhogs day!”
Others have been anticipating the winter weather.
“The weather is nice and everything but it’s Buffalo!” explains an anxious Ayala who is a hockey player. “You kind of [have to] enjoy the snow.”
He says this hockey season feels different because he and his teammates can’t go pass the puck around on the pond during their downtime.
“The pond just connects us,” said the Amherst resident. “Chemistry with my teammates is way better because we just go out there and have fun.”
“Let it snow!” sings McWilson. “I’m ready y’all!”
Ready and she, Ayala and others might have to keep waiting.
That’s what many town employees have had been doing too. The Amherst Highway Department salt trucks have only been deployed once this season– and it came this week– something the town supervisors say is very rare.
After a difficult January and February last year though, the supervisors say this mild November and December has helped even out how much they’ve spent and used on salt during 2015.
