Here’s A Sign That Spring Hasn’t Fully Arrived In Western New York

It wasn't all that long ago that there was a ton of snow on the ground, and it seemed like winter would never end. But after several above-average late-winter warm weather days, it seemed as if the weather in the 716 had turned the corner, and winter was done for good.

In fact, on March 19, 2025, the official last day of winter this year, a new high-temperature record was set in Buffalo. Then, in classic Buffalo fashion, a snow advisory was issued for the following days.

While we inch closer to spring weather being in full effect in Western New York, we're not quite there yet, and an announcement from the International Joint Commission and the US Army Corp of Engineers confirms that for all of us - no matter how much we wish it would just warm up.

Here's A Sign Hasn't Fully Spring Arrived In Western New York

While we've seen the ice on Lake Erie melt at an extreme rate over the last few weeks, there is still a ton of ice on the western end of the lake, which is causing a delay in what we wish would hurry up and happen: the removal of the Lake Erie—Niagara River Ice Boom.

Less than two months ago, Lake Erie was nearly 100% covered by ice thanks to a huge cold snap that hit the northeast. While we've seen some warm temperatures and tons of ice melt, it's not enough for engineers and workers to start removing the ice boom.

So, in the near future, the Ice Boom will be here to stay.

Satellite imagery analysis from March 30 showed that the eastern basin of Lake Erie, the portion of the lake east of a line between Long Point, Ontario and Erie, Pennsylvania, covered an area of about 507 square miles of ice. The current International Joint Commission Order of Approval governing operation of the ice boom requires that all floating sections of the boom be opened by the first day of April, unless there is more than 250 square miles of ice on eastern Lake Erie.
-Lynn Greer, US Army Corp of Engineers

Since 1964, the International Joint Commission has installed the almost 2-mile-long ice barrier to help reduce the amount of ice entering the Niagara River, which can damage the hydropower plants in and around Niagara Falls.

READ MORE: Watch Car Drive On Frozen Lake Erie In Buffalo, New York

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) jointly operate and own the ice boom. The two organizations are responsible for its' annual installation, removal, and maintenance. The IJC was created by the governments of Canada and the United States to help implement the goals of the 1909 Border Waters Treaty. The primary role of the IJC is to approve projects that can affect water levels and flows along the international boundary and investigate issues involving the water boundary.

The ice boom consists of 22 spans. The first four are located between Buffalo Harbor’s inner and outer breakwater, and constructed using 16, 15-foot-long mini pontoons. The remainder of the boom is constructed using a series of steel pontoons each 30-feet-long and 30 inches in diameter... Each span is built using up to 10 pontoons, anchored to the bottom of the lake at 400 foot intervals by 2.5 inch steel cables.
-IJC Ice Boom Fact Sheet