I remember in the late 60's, the schools were closed because the temps were in the minus 15-19 range. There was a strong East wind (unusual for BUF), and the lake ice was blocking the water intake, so no water for the city. This was well before anyone ever knew of bottled water.
I understand that around the turn of the last century, they had the E wind again, and the ice blocked the entrance to the Niagara river, so the falls stopped for a while.