Syracuse, New York – Plows ran for weeks and side streets narrowed under towering snowbanks as Central New York locked in one of its snowiest winters in decades.
According to the U.S. National Weather Service Eastern Region Headquarters, Syracuse recorded 115.8 inches of snow from December 2025 through February 2026. That makes it the 11th snowiest meteorological winter since records began in 1902. The seasonal total surpassed the normal 94.9 inches by nearly 21 inches.
Temperatures averaged 24.1 degrees over the three-month stretch, colder than the normal 26.7 degrees. That steady cold helped maintain deep snowpack, with Syracuse logging 81 days with at least one inch of snow on the ground — well above the normal 59 days.
Across New York State, lake-effect bands off Lake Ontario repeatedly targeted Onondaga, Oswego and Madison counties, while larger coastal systems spread accumulating snow statewide. Travel slowed frequently along Interstate 81 and the New York State Thruway, where blowing snow reduced visibility during heavier bursts.
The late-February “Bombo Genesis” system intensified offshore and wrapped enough moisture back into Central New York to add to seasonal totals, cementing the winter’s top-tier ranking.
With 115.8 inches officially measured, winter 2025-2026 stands as a notably snowy chapter for Syracuse and much of Upstate New York. Additional finalized seasonal climate summaries are expected as data review continues.
