Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New York, February 26 to 27, 2008

Name: Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New York, February 26 to 27, 2008
Start: 2008-02-26T09:00
End: 2008-02-27T10:00
Location: New York

February 26 to 27, 2008 · NWS ALY · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

A strengthening low pressure system tracked east from the Ohio Valley into southeast New York State during Tuesday February 26th, and into the Gulf of Maine by Wednesday morning on February 27th. This storm system brought a large swath of moderate to heavy snow across east central New York and adjacent western New England, beginning Tuesday evening, and ending Wednesday morning.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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 ALY wrote it up.

A strengthening low pressure system tracked east from the Ohio Valley into southeast New York State during Tuesday February 26th, and into the Gulf of Maine by Wednesday morning on February 27th.

This storm system brought a large swath of moderate to heavy snow across east central New York and adjacent western New England, beginning Tuesday evening, and ending Wednesday morning.

Total snowfall accumulations ranged from 8 to 14 inches within the Mohawk Valley, extending into the Lake George and Saratoga region, and upper Hudson Valley, as well as across higher elevations of the Schoharie Valley and eastern Catskills, with 3 to 7 inches further south and east into the Capital Region and central Taconics.

Intense snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour occurred Tuesday evening, which severely hampered the Tuesday evening commute. Numerous roads were closed or became impassable Tuesday evening, along with numerous accidents within the Capital Region.

In addition, this heavy snowfall resulted in the closings, or delayed openings of numerous schools and businesses Wednesday morning.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Albany, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 26, 6:53 AM EST, 2 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 26, 6:53 AM EST, 2 hours 7 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 26, 4:30 AM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
430 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008

NYZ032-033-038>043-047-048-051-082>084-VTZ013>015-271200-
NORTHERN HERKIMER-HAMILTON-SOUTHERN HERKIMER-SOUTHERN FULTON-
MONTGOMERY-NORTHERN SARATOGA-NORTHERN WARREN-NORTHERN WASHINGTON-
SCHOHARIE-WESTERN SCHENECTADY-WESTERN ALBANY-NORTHERN FULTON-
SOUTHEAST WARREN-SOUTHERN WASHINGTON-BENNINGTON-WESTERN WINDHAM-
EASTERN WINDHAM-
430 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 2 PM
EST WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN
ADIRONDACKS...THE MOHAWK AND SCHOHARIE VALLEYS...THE LAKE GEORGE
SARATOGA REGION...THE UPPER HUDSON VALLEY AND SOUTHERN VERMONT.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MAZ001-025-NYZ049-050-052>054-058-061-063-271200-
NORTHERN BERKSHIRE-SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE-EASTERN SCHENECTADY-
SOUTHERN SARATOGA-EASTERN ALBANY-WESTERN RENSSELAER-
EASTERN RENSSELAER-WESTERN GREENE-EASTERN COLUMBIA-WESTERN ULSTER-
430 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 2 PM
EST WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...THE
CAPITAL DISTRICT...THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL TACONICS...WESTERN
GREENE COUNTY AND WESTERN ULSTER COUNTY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

CTZ001-013-NYZ059-060-064>066-271200-
NORTHERN LITCHFIELD-SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD-EASTERN GREENE-
WESTERN COLUMBIA-EASTERN ULSTER-WESTERN DUTCHESS-EASTERN DUTCHESS-
430 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT AND
EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 heavy snow, 10 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Western Ulster

When: February 26, 9:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Western Ulster forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.888, -74.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Greene

When: February 26, 9:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Western Greene forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.277, -74.123 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Greene

When: February 26, 9:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Greene forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.277, -74.123 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Columbia

When: February 26, 9:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Western Columbia forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.250, -73.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Hamilton

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.661, -74.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Herkimer

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Herkimer forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.420, -74.962 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Fulton

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.114, -74.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Montgomery

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.902, -74.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Saratoga

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Saratoga forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.107, -73.864 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Warren

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Warren forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.561, -73.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Washington

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Washington forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.314, -73.431 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Western Schenectady

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Western Schenectady forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.818, -74.059 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Saratoga

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Saratoga forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.107, -73.864 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Western Albany

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Western Albany forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.600, -73.974 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Fulton

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.114, -74.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Washington

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Washington forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.314, -73.431 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southeast Warren

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Southeast Warren forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.561, -73.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Schoharie

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Schoharie forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.588, -74.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Rensselaer

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Rensselaer forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.711, -73.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Northern Herkimer

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Herkimer forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.420, -74.962 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Columbia

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to February 27, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Columbia forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.250, -73.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Schenectady

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Schenectady forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.818, -74.059 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Albany

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Albany forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.600, -73.974 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Rensselaer

When: February 26, 11:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Western Rensselaer forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.711, -73.510 (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.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New York in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in New York, February 2008

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 81445, 81462, 81463, 81464, 81431, 81432, 81434, 81435, 81436, 81438, 81439, 81440, 81441, 81443, 81447, 81449, 81450, 81452, 81454, 81455, 81456, 81457, 81459, 81461.