Ice Storm in New York, January 2 to 3, 1999

A low pressure system intensified across the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes region during the afternoon and evening hours of the 2nd. As it did so, it spread a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain first across New York's southern tier early in the evening. The precipitation eventually spread northward into the Finger Lakes and western Mohawk Valley regions prior to midnight. Snow accumulations were fairly minor in this event, generally ranging only from one to three inches. The reason for this was that the precipitation quickly changed over to sleet and then freezing rain from south to north. Steady freezing rain persisted across much of central New York during the overnight and early morning hours from the 2nd into the 3rd. Freezing rain resulted in a substantial build up of ice. The hardest hit areas stretched from the western Catskills into portions of the Mohawk Valley. Ice accumulations to nearly one inch over parts of this area brought down trees and power lines. Power outages were widespread across northern Sullivan and Delaware counties. Department of Transportation and State Police officials also reported very treacherous travel conditions, especially early on Sunday the 3rd. Many state routes in Delaware county were closed for a time. Warmer air pushed into central New York from the south and west during the morning hours on the 3rd. This milder air first pushed into the central southern tier and Finger Lakes regions, changing freezing rain over to light rain showers and drizzle. Finally by midday on the 3rd, temperatures pushed above freezing in the normally colder sections of the Catskills and Mohawk Valley.