New York, 2002

Heavy Snow in New York, December 23, 2002

December 23, 2002 · NWS BTV · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Low pressure over eastern Canada resulted in a favorable trajectory off of the eastern Great Lakes for heavy bands of Lake Effect Snow. Accumulations in these areas impacted by the bands were between 6 and 12 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$15,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BTV wrote it up.

Low pressure over eastern Canada resulted in a favorable trajectory off of the eastern Great Lakes for heavy bands of Lake Effect Snow. Accumulations in these areas impacted by the bands were between 6 and 12 inches. A few reports included: Lake Placid (Essex county) with 10 inches, Tupper Lake (Franklin county) with 6 inches and Oswegatchie (St. Lawrence county) with 9 inches.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Southern Franklin

When
December 23, 3:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Franklin forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.593, -74.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern St. Lawrence

When
December 23, 3:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Southern St. Lawrence forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.501, -75.116 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Western Essex

When
December 23, 3:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Western Essex forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.117, -73.773 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5324889, 5324890, 5324891.