New York, 2013

Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in New York, December 10 to 11, 2013

December 10 to 11, 2013 · NWS ALY · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

As very cold air passed over the relatively warm water of Lake Ontario, a heavy, long-lasting band of lake effect snow developed on the evening of Tuesday, Decmber 10th. This band was fairly continuous and extended far east across the entire western and southern Adirondacks through Tuesday night and into the entire day of Wednesday.

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
None recorded
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 ALY wrote it up.

As very cold air passed over the relatively warm water of Lake Ontario, a heavy, long-lasting band of lake effect snow developed on the evening of Tuesday, Decmber 10th. This band was fairly continuous and extended far east across the entire western and southern Adirondacks through Tuesday night and into the entire day of Wednesday. The band finally began to shift south and weaken as an approaching arctic cold front disrupted the flow. By the time the band ended late in the evening of Wednesday, December 11th, over one foot of snow was common across the western Adirondacks. Snowfall totals included 15.0 in Inlet, 14.0 in Big Moose, and 10.0 in Long Lake. 4.5 was reported as far east as Gore Mountain in Warren County as well.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 lake-effect snow, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Lake-Effect Snow, Northern Herkimer

When
December 10, 6:00 PM EST to December 11, 11:30 PM EST
Where
Northern Herkimer forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.420, -74.962 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Hamilton

When
December 10, 6:00 PM EST to December 11, 11:30 PM EST
Where
Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.661, -74.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Northern Warren

When
December 11, 12:00 AM EST to 11:30 PM EST
Where
Northern Warren forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.561, -73.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Lake-Effect Snow
Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.
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

More

Every storm in New York in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 2013

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: 480628, 480629, 480655.