Western and Central New York

DEC Regions 7, 8, and 9

The geographic focus of this site is Western and Central New York, including the Finger Lakes Region, specifically DEC Regions 7, 8, and 9). This is most of "Upstate New York", but does not include the Adirondack or Hudson Valley regions.

Climate

New York has a temperate climate.

Winters are marked by "Lake Effect" from both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, especially when the lakes are predominantly unfrozen, picking upp moisture and precipitating heavy snow in relatively narrow East-to-West stretching regions called "snow bands".

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones for Western and Central New York

USDA Hardiness Zones for DEC Regions 7, 8, and 9 vary from Zones 4a to 6a, which represent average annual minimum temperatures as follows:

• Zone 4a: -30 to -25 F (-31.7 to -34.4 C)
• Zone 4b: -25 to -20 F (-28.9 to -31.6 C)
• Zone 5a: -20 to -15 F (-26.2 to -28.8 C)
• Zone 5b: -15 to -10 F (-23.4 to -26.1 C)
• Zone 6a: -10 to -5 F (-20.6 to -23.3)

DEC Regions

Source

Region 7

"Central New York", making up Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties. The DEC Main office is in Syracuse, with sub-offices in Cortland, Kirkwood and Sherburne.

Region 8

Greater Rochester and "Finger Lakes Region", making up Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates counties. The DEC Main office is in Avon with sub-offices in Bath and Horseheads.

Region 9

"Western New York", making up Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming counties). Main office is in the City of Buffalo, with sub-offices in Allegany, Belmont and Falconer.

Geology

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