Weather
New York Snow Records: What They Mean for Winter 2026-27
Albany, NY – New York has experienced extraordinary winter storms capable of dropping up to 50 inches of snow in a single day, with historic accumulations affecting communities from the Great Lakes re
By Natalie Rhodes · 2026-10-21T12:09:59.500Z
Albany, NY – New York has experienced extraordinary winter storms capable of dropping up to 50 inches of snow in a single day, with historic accumulations affecting communities from the Great Lakes region to the Adirondacks and Southern Tier. As winter 2026 27 approaches, these records demonstrate why even relatively mild winters can still deliver dangerous snowfall.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Camden in Oneida County recorded 50 inches of snow Feb. 1, 1966, the highest one day measurement in the supplied New York county records. Other significant snowfall events have produced accumulations exceeding 40 inches in western, northern and central New York.
New York's 10 Biggest Distinct Single Day Snowfall Records The following list uses the highest reported measurement for each distinct date in NOAA's county level records, grouping multiple locations that recorded snowfall on the same day.
1. Feb. 1, 1966: Camden, Oneida County — 50.0 inches 2. Dec. 2, 2024: Taylorville, Lewis County — 48.0 inches 3. Nov. 20, 2014: East Aurora, Erie County — 47.5 inches 4. Dec. 10, 1995: Watertown Airport, Jefferson County — 45.0 inches 5. Dec. 17, 2020: Apalachin, Tioga County — 42.5 inches. Endicott recorded 39.5 inches, with several other counties reporting major snowfall. 6. March 14, 1993: Chasm Falls, Franklin County — 42.0 inches. Ellenburg Depot recorded 41 inches during the same storm. 7. Dec. 8, 1958: Oswego, Oswego County — 40.0 inches 8. Feb. 14, 1914: West Berne, Albany County — 38.0 inches. Glens Falls recorded 33 inches. 9. Dec. 25, 2022: North Tonawanda, Niagara County — 38.0 inches 10. Feb. 16, 1958: Callicoon, Sullivan County — 38.0 inches Why New York's Snowfall Records Matter New York experiences several distinct types of winter storms. Communities near Lakes Erie and Ontario can receive intense lake effect snowfall when cold air moves across relatively warmer lake waters.
Meanwhile, powerful nor'easters can produce heavy snow across the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Adirondacks and New York City metropolitan region.
The November 2014 storm in western New York demonstrated how lake effect snow can produce extraordinary accumulations over relatively small geographic areas.
The March 1993 storm, meanwhile, affected multiple counties and illustrated the widespread impact of a major winter weather system.
What Could This Mean for Winter 2026 27? El Niño can influence winter temperatures, precipitation and storm tracks across the Northeast. However, warmer seasonal conditions do not eliminate the possibility of extreme snowfall.
Cold air interacting with moisture from the Great Lakes or Atlantic Ocean can still produce significant accumulations during an otherwise mild winter.
Historical records cannot predict whether winter 2026 27 will bring another record breaking storm, but they demonstrate how quickly conditions can become dangerous.
For New York residents, the lesson is clear: One powerful winter storm can create serious disruptions regardless of the season's overall temperature trend.