More Snow Coming to NY This Week: Over 5 Feet in Some Towns – See the Full Snowfall Breakdown

Winter storms have already had a major influence all throughout New York State as December settles in. Upstate New York has been hit with some of the heaviest snowfall on record, while New York City faces a more uncertain forecast for the upcoming days. Here’s a breakdown of snowfall totals across the state, as well as what to expect for the rest of the week.

Heavy Snowfall in Upstate New York

Over the weekend, lake-effect snow pummeled much of Upstate New York, bringing several feet of snow to areas east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The most significant snowfalls were reported in Copenhagen, where 65.9 inches of snow accumulated, and Barnes Corners, which recorded 65.5 inches. Other areas, like Cassadaga and Chautauqua County, saw similar totals, including 54.1 inches in Cassadaga and 47 inches in Cherry Valley.

Snowfall totals in upstate New York:

• Copenhagen: 65.9 inches (1.67 m)
• Barnes Corners (Lewis County): 65.5 inches (1.66 m)
• Cassadaga: 54.1 inches (1.37 m)
• Chautauqua County: 47 inches (1.19 m)
• Cherry Valley: 47 inches (1.19 m)

This region has long been prone to intense snowstorms due to its proximity to the Great Lakes, where lake-effect snow can rapidly accumulate. As of Monday, winter storm warnings remain in effect across Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties, with ongoing snowfall expected to add another 12 to 20 inches (50.8 cm) in the hardest-hit areas. Local authorities have urged caution, as roads have been heavily impacted by drifting snow and reduced visibility.

Additionally, the northwest corner of the state received warnings for flooding, as the heavy snow and subsequent melt could overwhelm the region’s drainage systems. Temperatures in the region have stayed in the 20s to low 30s, meaning the snow has remained relatively heavy and wet.

Weaker lake snows will persist southeast of the lakes today, then will move quickly northward tonight, before ending NNE of the lakes Wednesday morning. Low pressure will then bring a round of widespread snow, wind, and blowing snow, particularly Wednesday night and Thursday. pic.twitter.com/uo8A1czwj9

— NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) December 3, 2024

Snowfall totals for 122 Upstate communities

Here are the snowfall totals for the weekend lake effect storm as of Monday, December 2, 2024. Note: Updated with more communities.

Place	County	Inches	Time
Copenhagen, 3 SW	Lewis	65.9	1100 AM
Barnes Corners, 4 SW	Jefferson	65.5	0700 AM
Fort Drum	Jefferson	63.0	1100 AM
Copenhagen, 1 S	Lewis	61.0	1100 AM
Cassadaga	Chautauqua	54.2	0100 PM
Perrysburg, N	Cattaraugus	53.7	1100 AM
Black River, 5 SE	Jefferson	52.8	0700 AM
West Carthage 0.3 ENE	Jefferson	47.2	0700 AM
New Bremen, 1 NE	Lewis	46.0	0800 AM
Adams	Jefferson	45.0	0820 AM
Dewittville 1.0 SSE	Chautauqua	42.5	0600 AM
Cattaraugus 3W	Cattaraugus	40.9	0700 AM
Harrisville	Lewis	40.0	1130 AM
Lowville	Lewis	40.0	1100 AM
Watertown	Jefferson	37.5	0800 AM
Croghan, 2 WSW	Lewis	37.0	1130 AM
Angola, 4 NE	Erie	36.2	0600 AM
Fredonia 0.8 WNW	Chautauqua	35.9	0500 AM
Lowville	Lewis	35.0	0700 AM
Springville 5NE	Erie	34.6	0800 AM
Wales	Erie	33.1	0700 AM
Holland, 3 NE	Erie	32.5	0600 AM
Dunkirk 1S	Chautauqua	32.0	0700 AM
Natural Bridge	Jefferson	30.0	1130 AM
Springville, 1 WNW	Erie	29.4	0800 AM
Watertown 0.9 SSW	Jefferson	28.4	0645 AM
Glenwood 1.0 SE	Erie	28.3	0700 AM
Orchard Park	Erie	27.6	1055 AM
Boston 2.5 NE	Erie	26.7	0700 AM
Elma Center 1.8 SE	Erie	26.5	0700 AM
Glenwood 1.5 SE	Erie	26.5	0800 AM
Calcium, 3 W	Jefferson	26.0	1100 AM
Silver Creek 0.7 E	Chautauqua	25.1	0800 AM
East Aurora, 2 WNW	Erie	24.8	0100 AM
Attica 7SW	Wyoming	24.6	0600 AM
Depauville	Jefferson	24.0	1125 AM
West Seneca 2.5 E	Erie	24.0	0800 AM
Alden 2.5 SE	Genesee	23.2	0800 AM
Hamburg 2.0 N	Erie	23.2	0754 AM
West Seneca 2.8 ENE	Erie	23.0	0700 AM
Lake View 1NE	Erie	22.1	0800 AM
East Aurora 2.7 SSE	Erie	21.4	0700 AM
Cowlesville, 2 NNE	Genesee	21.3	0800 AM
Eden 1.4 SSE	Erie	21.0	0700 AM
Theresa	Jefferson	21.0	1145 AM
East Aurora 0.1 ENE	Erie	20.6	0700 AM
West Falls, 2 NW	Erie	20.5	0821 AM
Hamburg 0.4 WSW	Erie	19.3	0700 AM
Lackawanna	Erie	18.0	1015 PM
Chases Lake	Lewis	17.8	0600 AM
Alden, 1 NW	Erie	17.6	0700 AM
Glenfield 4.1 NNE	Lewis	17.4	1000 AM
Silver Springs 3N	Wyoming	16.9	0700 AM
Randolph 1.1 ENE	Cattaraugus	15.0	0830 AM
Highmarket 2W	Lewis	14.0	0600 AM
Franklinville 0.5 NNE	Cattaraugus	13.3	0815 AM
Buffalo 3.7 SE	Erie	12.8	0700 AM
Ischua 0.4 SSE	Cattaraugus	11.9	0700 AM
Warsaw 4W	Wyoming	11.7	0700 AM
Kennedy 0.3 NE	Chautauqua	11.5	0600 AM
Wyoming 3W	Wyoming	10.9	0700 AM
Kennedy 2.6 SE	Chautauqua	10.8	0800 AM
Chaumont	Jefferson	10.5	1100 AM
Alexander 4.4 ESE	Genesee	10.0	0800 AM
Falconer 0.3 WSW	Chautauqua	9.2	0700 AM
Centerville, 2 WSW	Allegany	8.0	0915 AM
Bemus Point 2.6 WSW	Chautauqua	7.0	0700 AM
Constableville 1.2 NW	Lewis	6.5	0500 AM
Pembroke	Genesee	6.2	0532 AM
West Almond 3.6 SW	Allegany	6.1	0800 AM
Brantingham	Lewis	6.0	1130 AM
Rushford	Allegany	6.0	0545 AM
Sodus	Wayne	6.0	1100 AM
Alexander 2.7 WNW	Genesee	5.6	0700 AM
Allegany State Park	Cattaraugus	5.3	0800 AM
Wellsville 2.4 ENE	Allegany	5.0	0700 AM
Wolcott 6.4 NW	Wayne	4.7	0700 AM
Attica	Wyoming	4.3	0123 PM
Batavia 3.4 WSW	Genesee	4.0	0800 AM
Lacona 3.6 SSE	Oswego	4.0	0700 AM
Alfred	Allegany	3.3	0700 AM
Palermo 2SSE	Oswego	2.6	0600 AM
Phoenix 7.0 NNE	Oswego	2.6	0600 AM
Duck Lake	Cayuga	2.0	0800 AM
Minetto 0.1 SE	Oswego	2.0	0800 AM
Hilton, 2 WNW	Monroe	1.7	0700 AM
Angola	Erie	1.5	1101 AM
Williamsville, 1 SE	Erie	1.2	0700 AM
Dansville 3.6 WSW	Livingston	1.1	0600 AM
Stafford 1.8 NE	Genesee	1.1	0700 AM
Mexico 2SW	Oswego	1.0	0600 AM
West Monroe 1.6 NNE	Oswego	1.0	0730 AM
Le Roy 1E	Genesee	0.9	0730 AM
Bristol Harbour	Ontario	0.6	0700 AM
Webster 3.0 W	Monroe	0.5	0900 AM
West Bloomfield 1S	Ontario	0.5	0900 AM
Gasport 1.7 WSW	Niagara	0.3	0700 AM
Rochester 5.0 WNW	Monroe	0.3	0700 AM
Gates-North Gates, 3 SE	Monroe	0.2	0700 AM
Clarence Center 0.2 ESE	Erie	0.2	0700 AM
Brockport	Monroe	0.1	0900 AM
Clarence Center 0.9 N	Erie	0.1	0700 AM
Rochester 5.7 W	Monroe	0.1	0900 AM
Cheektowaga 2.4 NW	Erie	0.0	0700 AM
Clyde 0.3 WNW	Wayne	0.0	0600 AM
East Amherst 1.2 WNW	Erie	0.0	0845 AM
East Amherst 1.3 WSW	Erie	0.0	0759 AM
Fairport 0.9 W	Monroe	0.0	0640 AM
Kenmore 0.3 ESE	Erie	0.0	0640 AM
Le Roy 0.7 ESE	Genesee	0.0	0700 AM
Lockport	Niagara	0.0	0700 AM
Lockport 0.8 NE	Niagara	0.0	0700 AM
Lockport 2.8 WNW	Niagara	0.0	0805 AM
Macedon 2.6 ESE	Wayne	0.0	0710 AM
Medina	Orleans	0.0	0800 AM
Medina 0.4 WNW	Orleans	0.0	0800 AM
Palmyra 1.6 NW	Wayne	0.0	0750 AM
Pittsford 4.0 SSE	Monroe	0.0	0700 AM
Sanborn 4NE	Niagara	0.0	0700 AM
Scottsville 0.4 NW	Monroe	0.0	0800 AM
Snyder 0.6 SW	Erie	0.0	0700 AM
Tonawanda 3.1 NE	Erie	0.0	0530 AM

What’s Next for Upstate New York?

More snow is on the way for upstate New York, with Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo preparing for additional lake-effect snow starting Tuesday and continuing through Wednesday. Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties remain the most vulnerable, where forecasters predict up to 20 inches (50.8 cm) of new snow. The heaviest snow bands are expected to push eastward, affecting areas like Madison County and Syracuse, where up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) could accumulate by the evening.

Beyond this, there is still a chance of snow today, and although conditions may ease by the end of the week, snowfall totals could surpass 5 feet (1.52 metres) in the hardest-hit regions by the time the storm system moves out. Snow removal and power outages could remain a concern for rural areas.

New York City’s Winter Outlook

As for New York City, the first significant snowfall of the season remains up in the air. Meteorologists are predicting an Alberta Clipper system, expected to move through the region late in the week. While New York City is on the fringe of the storm, the city may only see light snow, as temperatures are forecasted to hover around the low 40s. Snow accumulations in the city are predicted to be relatively minimal, with some flurries likely on Saturday.

Though the Alberta Clipper is not expected to bring major snow, it will still deliver some chilly weather and could cause delays for commuters, especially with the wind chill. In fact, forecasters have predicted that 20 inches of snow is expected for the entire winter season in NYC, slightly below the usual average of 28 inches.

Broader Winter Forecast for NYC

Despite the expected lighter snowfall, New York City can anticipate a milder-than-usual winter overall. Temperatures are predicted to remain above average for the next few months. Long-range models suggest that January and February could see more rainy days than snowy ones, with mixed precipitation events being the most likely cause of winter disruptions. In general, snowfall totals are expected to remain below the historical average, with projections estimating about 18–23 inches of snow by the end of the season.

For the outer boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, even lighter snow totals are anticipated. Historically, these areas have seen less snowfall than parts of Manhattan or The Bronx, and this winter may follow that trend.

Impact on Local Infrastructure and Commuting

The immediate concern remains the impact on transportation across both upstate New York and New York City. In upstate regions, the heavy snow is expected to disrupt travel across counties like Onondaga, Cattaraugus, and Madison, where Interstate 81 and Route 390 are notorious for becoming hazardous during heavy snow events. Some local roads in Syracuse and Rochester may remain impassable for several days, and power outages have been reported in more remote areas due to downed power lines.

For New York City, though snow totals are expected to be light, the potential for slippery sidewalks and delayed public transport could still impact commuters. The MTA has been preparing for disruptions, with bus routes and subways potentially facing delays due to wet snow and icy conditions. Additionally, the city’s emergency services are on standby, ready for any unexpected snow or freezing rain events, especially in the event of a quick drop in temperature.