New York, 2024

Lake-Effect Snow in New York, February 28 to 29, 2024

February 28 to 29, 2024 · NWS BGM · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

After a strong cold front crossed the area during the afternoon and evening of the 28th with a line of heavy showers and thunderstorms, temperatures fell quickly and lake effect snow showers developed late in the evening that continued into the 29th. The primary, but narrow, lake effect snow band developed over north-central Onondaga County during the predawn hours on the 29th and extended…

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.

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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 BGM wrote it up.

After a strong cold front crossed the area during the afternoon and evening of the 28th with a line of heavy showers and thunderstorms, temperatures fell quickly and lake effect snow showers developed late in the evening that continued into the 29th. The primary, but narrow, lake effect snow band developed over north-central Onondaga County during the predawn hours on the 29th and extended across northern Madison and southern Oneida Counties as it shifted north for a time. This band produced 2 or more inches per hour snowfall rates at its peak. The snow band became weaker and more cellular during the afternoon of the 29th before it reorganized between 6 and 10 PM EST in the evening and brought another heavy burst of snow north of I-90. Strong winds were present during the evening hours on the 28th with peak gusts generally between 55 and 60 mph.

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 Binghamton, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 6:42 PM EST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 6:42 PM EST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 2:24 PM EST, 5 hours 36 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 6:02 PM EST, 1 hour 58 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 28, 6:12 PM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 28, 6:38 PM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Feb 28, 6:47 PM EST, 1 hour 13 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 28, 6:57 PM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 28, 6:59 PM EST, 1 hour 1 minute before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Lake-Effect Snow, Onondaga

When
February 28, 8:00 PM EST to February 29, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Onondaga forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.006, -76.195 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow accumulated between 5 and 20 inches.

Lake-Effect Snow, Madison

When
February 28, 8:00 PM EST to February 29, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.913, -75.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow accumulated between 5 and 19 inches.

Lake-Effect Snow, Southern Oneida

When
February 28, 8:00 PM EST to February 29, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Oneida forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.242, -75.436 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow accumulated between 5 and 17 inches.

What these are

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

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, February 2024

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: 1158057, 1158058, 1158059.