Those tasked with keeping airport runways clear when it snows are gathering in Buffalo to swap strategies.

The 45th annual International Snow Symposium comes on the heels of a particularly tough winter that grounded thousands of flights nationwide. The worst was in late December, when a blizzard in the Northeast caused more than 10,000 flight cancellations, stranding hordes of holiday travelers in airports.

Organizers say about 350 runway operations professionals are participating in this year's four-day symposium, which runs through Wednesday.

They'll discuss ways to cope with snow, slush and ice that minimize costs and delays.

The group also will hear from Buffalo airport officials on the lessons they learned responding to the 2009 crash of Flight 3407 a few miles short of the airport.