This list is adapted from the book and may be used freely for purposes of disseminating weather information. Credit: Bassette, K. (2023.) A History of Severe Weather to the Lee of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in Western, Central, and North-Central New York 1798-2022. Kellen Bassette.

24­-HOUR SNOWFALL RECORDS

   The following is a noncomprehensive list of official and unofficial snowfall records in the Lake 

Region for periods of 24 hours or less. Only measurements believed to be reliable and taken by 

weather observers were considered.

77", 24 hours, January 11­-12, 1997, Montague, NY.

   From 1330 on Jan. 11 to 1330 on Jan. 12, 1997, a National Weather Service snow spotter measured 77" 

of snowfall in Montague. The total was rejected as a state record since six measurements were made 

during the 24-­hour period and no more than four measurements in 24 hours are allowable for climate 

records.

A study of this event conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that the snowfall total 

was reasonable. The 77" figure included 40" of snowfall in a 12­-hour period from 1930 on Jan. 11 to 

0730 on Jan. 12, 1997, when a single measurement was made. See page 607.

68", 24 hours, January 9, 1976, Adams, NY.

An unofficial snowfall record maintained by the Department of Transportation in Adams notes 68" of 

snowfall on the observation day of Jan. 9, 1976, in a 24­-hour period. The methodology employed is 

unknown. The figure is corroborated by news reports and snowfall data from Barnes Corners during 

the event. See page 531.

66.5", 24 hours, November 17­-18, 2022, Orchard Park, NY.

   A National Weather Service snow spotter in Orchard Park measured 66" of snow in a 23.5­-hour period 

ending at 1900 on Nov. 18, 2022. I prorated the 77" storm total to arrive at the 66.5" figure for a 

24-­hour period. The record was considered for a state record by the State Climate Extremes 

Committee but was rejected due to unconventional methodology. The data was considered "plausible", 

however. See page 686. (Kindle version.)

61.7", 24 hours, January 11-12, 1997, North Redfield, NY.

   A National Weather Service snow spotter in North Redfield measured 61" of snow on the observation

day of January 12, 1997. The observer employed the methodology outlined by the Buffalo NWS snow

spotter program. The figure appears to have never been considered for an official record, likely because

the higher total measured in Montague during the same event was then under consideration for a state

and national record.

   Measurement periods at the station were somewhat aperiodical and the period in question actually

contained 23 hours from 2200 on Jan. 11 to 2100 on Jan. 12, 1997. I prorated the snowfall total using the

17" of snow that fell on the observation day of Jan. 13, 1997, to account for an entire 24-hour

period.

Hourly snowfall for the observation day of Jan. 12, 1997, averaged 2.7" so the 61.7" figure is likely a bit

conservative. See page 607.

56.9", 24 hours, November 17-18, 2022, Athol Springs, NY.

   A National Weather Service snow spotter measured 65" of snowfall in a period of 27 hours and 26

minutes on Nov. 17-18, 2022. I arrived at the 56.9" figure by prorating the 27-hour

+ period. The storm total tallied 76". The State Climate Extremes Committee rejected the data for a state record due to irregular time intervals. See pages 687-688. (Kindle Version.)

56", 15 hours, January 29-30, 1925, Willard, NY.

   The cooperative observer in Willard measured 56" of snow in a 15-hour period from 1030 on Jan. 29 to

0130 on Jan. 30, 1925. This is the only nonlake effect or combination synoptic/lake effect event in this

list. The observer's monthly record was rejected by contemporary quality control as the precipitation and

snowfall records were very fragmentary and of generally poor quality. The fact that the station reported

20" more snowfall than the next highest measurement at a COOP station likely figured into the rejection.

   However, the author finds an abundance of evidence in contemporary papers that the reported snowfall

total was at least reasonable and that Willard was close to the area of heaviest snowfall during the event.

The observer reported 8" of snowfall on the observation day of Jan. 29 and 48" on the observation day of

Jan. 30. Assuming the observer adhered to the 1700 observation time, which is uncertain, then the

reported 48" of snowfall for the observation day of Jan. 30 fell in just 8 and a half hours. Presumably, two

measurements were made during the event. See pages 344-345.

56", 24 hours, December 29-30, 1976, Mannsville, NY.

   An unofficial snowfall record maintained by the Department of Transportation in Mannsville notes 48" of

snowfall on the observation day of Dec. 29 and 8" on the observation day of Dec. 30, 1976, for a total of

56" of snowfall in a 24-hour period. The methodology employed is unknown. See page 539.

54", 18 hours, January 9, 1976, Barnes Corners, NY.

   An experienced weather observer cooperating with the National Weather Service, who would become

an official cooperative observer in 1979, measured 54" of snowfall in 18 hours at Barnes Corners from

0400-2200 on Jan. 9, 1976. This total is considered by NOAA to be an "unofficial" state record. See page

531.

52.7", 24 hours, January 5­-6, 1988, Highmarket, NY.

   The cooperative observer in Highmarket measured an official 47.5" of snowfall beginning at 0600 on 

Jan. 5, 1997, (observation day of Jan. 6, 1997,) during the final 19 hours of a 40­-hour storm. I 

arrived at the 52.7" figure by prorating the 21.8" of snow that fell in 21 hours on the observation 

day of Jan. 5 and adding 5 hours to the 19 hour total on the observation day of Jan. 6.

   The prorated total is likely conservative as snowfall rates averaged 2.5" an hour during the final 

19 hours of the event. Assuming that rate of snowfall over 24 hours would yield 60" of snowfall in 

a 24­-hour period which is consistent with unofficial reports from nearby areas. See page 581.

51", 16 hours, January 17, 1959, Bennetts Bridge, NY.

   An official 51" of snow fell in 16 hours from 0000 to 1600 on Jan. 17, 1959, at the cooperative station at

Bennetts Bridge, in the Town of Orwell, just outside of Altmar. Measurements were made at 8-hour

intervals.

   The total was never considered for a state record as the measurements spanned two observation days

(observation time was 0800) and the observer never specified the duration of the snowfall in the original

cooperative observer form. However, the observer did give details of the duration of the event to the

press. See page 477.

51", 24 hours, January 8, 1982, Martville, NY.

An unofficial observer measured 51" of snow in 24 hours in Martville on Jan. 8, 1982. The methodology

employed is unknown. See page 566.

50", 24 hours, January 31-February 1, 1966, Camden, NY.

   The cooperative observer in Camden measured 50" of snowfall from 0800 on Jan. 31 to 0800 on Feb. 1,

1966. This is the official state 24-hour snowfall record. See page 488.

49", 23.5 hours, November 14-15, 1900, Watertown, NY.

   The cooperative observer in Watertown measured an official 49" of snow from 1500 on November 14 to

1430 on November 15, 1900. this includes 4" of snowfall on the observation day of November 14 and 45"

on the observation day of November 15. See page 306.

48", 17 hours, January 13, 1974, Oswego, NY.

   Unofficial observers participating in a weather network headed by Professor Robert Sykes Jr. of SUNY

Oswego measured new snowfall at several points following lake effect storms. Among the measurements

in their survey following the Jan. 13, 1974, event was a 48" snowfall total derived from a single

measurement, reported from just south of the jail near the extreme southern city limits of Oswego.

   The storm impacted the area between 0100 and 1800 on Jan. 13. The official snowfall measurement at

the cooperative observer station some 2.3 miles to the north-northwest was 32.5". The coop station

experienced a three-hour lull in the heavy snow that did not occur in areas just south of the station. See

page 525.

47.5", 24 hours, November 19-20, 2014, East Aurora, NY.

   The CoCoHaRHS observer at East Aurora 1 ESE measured 47.5" of snow in the 24-hour

period ending at 1800 on November 20, 2014. See page 660.

46.2", 24 hours, November 18-19, 2022, Elma, NY.

   The CoCoHaRHS observer at Elma 2.7 WSW measured 46.2" of snow in the 24-hour

period ending at 0700 on November 19, 2022. See page 685.

45", 24 hours, December 10, 1995, Watertown International Airport, Dexter, NY.

   An official 45" of snowfall was measured at the Watertown airport on the calendar day of December 10,

1995. See page 599.