Western New York Heritage

The Season of Lake Disaster

By Stephen Vermette - October 26, 2026

The onset of Autumn has historically meant an increase in violent storms on the Great Lakes.

The full content is available in the Fall 2026 Issue, or online with the purchase of:

If you have already purchased the product above, you can to access it.

Related Content
Death by Fire and Water: The Steamship Erie Disaster

The Erie Canal opened the West-- but getting there could be a deadly gamble, as this 1841 tragedy demonstrated.
Buffalo’s Weather Story: The Early Years

Weather agencies operated a number of forecasting stations in downtown Buffalo prior to moving to the airport.
Old Photo Album: The Steamer Greater Buffalo

A 1920s souvenir booklet provides a unique look at a palatial Great Lakes cruise ship.
Endnotes: Old Probabilities and the Beginnings of the National Weather Service

The tragic blizzard of 2022 provides an opportunity to recall the early days of weather forecasting.
From the Gift Shop
Buffalo-Niagara Connections: A New Regional History of the Niagara Link

By: John Percy

Geography's impact on the history of Western New York and Ontario's Niagara Peninsula.
The Ice Must Flow

Through a partnership with Christopher Behrend Photography, we bring you this unique collection of the most intense & beautiful winter icescapes-captured during the incredible winter months of 2019.
More by Stephen Vermette
“Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death:” Western New York’s Lost Summer of 1816

Two hundred years ago, the incredible eruption of an Indonesian volcano created climatic havoc, worldwide.
Buffalo’s Humboldt Centennial

Alexander von Humboldt never visited Buffalo, yet the city pulled out all the stops to commemorate the centennial of this influential scientist’s birth.
WNY Heritage Sponsors

© 2026 Western New York Heritage, Inc. - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy