How Early Has Snow Arrived in Central New York

Is it too soon to start talking snow? Like it or not, it's coming.

Warmer temperatures are coming. But it's felt more like fall in Central New York the past few days, reminding us of what's on the way.

How early has the snow started to fall in Central and Upstate New York? Winter doesn't officially begin until December 21 but sometimes we get snow soon enough to make a Halloween costume big enough to fit over winter coats.

Lowville received 4 inches as early as October 1 back in 1944. Two years later 6 inches fell at the Syracuse Hancock Airport on the same day.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration created an interactive map to see when the first flakes of the season fell all across the country.

Earliest New York Snow

October 1, 1944: 4 inches of snow in Lowville
October 1, 1946: .6 inches of snow at Syracuse Hancock Airport
November 1, 1951: 1 inch of snow in Delta
October 14, 1958: 1.5 inches of snow in Forestport
September 27, 1980: .3 inches of snow in Old Forge
October 11, 1987: 4 inches of snow at Oneida County Airport
Octber 22, 1988: 1.1 inches of snow in Frankfort

Hardy Central New Yorkers don't mind a little snow early or even late in the season.

Photo Credit - Patty Kimball

Winter at Whiteface Summit

Whiteface has already seen it's first dose of winter weather. The first flakes of the season fell on September 8, several weeks earlier than 2022 and over a month sooner than last year.

Temperatures dropped to 36 degrees at the Whiteface Mountain Field Station with wind gusts making it feel well below zero....in AUGUST!

Bring on Winter

Whatever winter holds, we can handle anything Mother Nature dishes out. If we can survive Stella, we can survive anything. We'll just stock up on sweaters, gas up the snowmobiles, and wax up the skis. Bring on the snow.

The good news is summer returns to Central New York. Temperatures are back in the 80s for the next several days.