National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

A Nor'easter moved up the eastern US coast on March 13th to late on the 14th. Heavy snow spread across parts of central New York and Pennsylvania late on March 13th. By late evening on the 14th snowfall amounts range from 8 to 33 inches of snow. After the strong area of low pressure moved northeast, lake effect snow bands formed producing more snow across the area on March 15, 2017.

Some record snow amounts occurred across parts of the area. A 24 hour record snowfall occurred at the Greater Binghamton airport from March 14th to March 15th. A total of 31.3 inches of snow fell between 3 am on the 14th to 1 am on the 15th. This breaks the previous 24 hour snowfall record of 23 inches set in February 1961. Binghamton, NY seasonal snowfall now stands at 127.7 inches on March 14th, 2017 which is 3.6 inches shy of the 131.3 inches all time seasonal snowfall set in 1993-94.

This is in stark contrast to last winter where only 32 inches fell for entire 2015-2016 snow season. This was a record low snowfall. Normal seasonal snowfall at the greater Binghamton airport is 83.4 inches. Records at the greater Binghamton airport go back to 1951.

 

Record daily maximum snowfall set at Avoca PA. A record snowfall of 19.5 inch(es) was set at Avoca, PA today. This breaks the old record of 3.4 set in 1956.

Climate Data as of March 14, 2017
Site Season Total (inches) Average Season Total (inches) Departure from Average Last Year 2016
Binghamton, NY 131.7 72.7 59.0 22.3
Syracuse, NY 133.2 113.1 20.1 72.2
Scranton/Wilkes Barre, PA 55.2 39.2 16.0 13.3
The table above was last updated on March 16, 2017. For the latest totals, please see past observed weather or NOWData websites.

 

Note: Season total is how much snow has been measure since July 1.

The map and data below are all preliminary.

 

Map showing snowfall for March 14 2017 snow storm.

Overview of snowfall across the northeast March 14-16, 2017

 

The following are official and unofficial observations. Appreciation is extended to highway departments, cooperative observers, SKYWARN Spotters, and media for these reports.

 

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS
                     SNOWFALL           OF
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT

NEW YORK

...BROOME COUNTY...
   ENDWELL               36.2   715 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   WEST CORNERS          35.0   815 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   BINGHAMTON REG ARPT   34.9   800 PM  3/15  NWS OFFICE
   2 SSE WHITNEY POINT   32.4   816 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   1 S BINGHAMTON        31.0   730 AM  3/15  NEAR ROSS PARK ZOO
   BROOKVALE             29.2   836 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   NW JOHNSON CITY       28.3   948 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER

...CAYUGA COUNTY...
   2 SW AUBURN           21.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO

...CHEMUNG COUNTY...
   ERIN                  13.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   ELMIRA                12.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO

...CHENANGO COUNTY...
   COVENTRY              35.0   954 AM  3/15  PUBLIC
   PLYMOUTH              34.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   BAINBRIDGE            30.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   GUILFORD              30.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   NORWICH               27.5   900 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER
   PRESTON               26.5   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   AFTON                 25.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   GREENE                22.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO

...CORTLAND COUNTY...
   CORTLAND              23.6  1201 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   WILLET                23.4   956 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   VIRGIL                18.0   813 AM  3/15  FACEBOOK

...DELAWARE COUNTY...
   2 NW NEW KINGSTON     30.0   931 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   MARGARETVILLE         30.0   802 AM  3/15  FACEBOOK

...MADISON COUNTY...
   CAZENOVIA             30.6   948 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   CHITTENANGO           26.0   745 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   ONEIDA                20.0   811 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL

...ONEIDA COUNTY...
   2 S UTICA             36.0   730 AM  3/15  FACEBOOK
   CLINTON               35.8   830 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   5 SE BARNEVELD        32.1   601 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL FACEBOOK
   NEW HARTFORD          31.6   713 AM  3/15  PUBLIC
   WHITESBORO            30.5   830 AM  3/15  FACEBOOK
   HOLLAND PATENT        26.3   917 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER

...ONONDAGA COUNTY...
   EAST SYRACUSE         28.1   531 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   1 W CICERO            26.0   900 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   MARCELLUS             26.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   SYRACUSE HANCOCK ARP  24.4   933 PM  3/15  ASOS
   1 ESE FRANKLIN PARK   24.3   837 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   BAYBERRY              21.5   737 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   FAYETTEVILLE          21.5   718 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   1 WNW WARNERS         20.0   316 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   WARNERS               19.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   LIVERPOOL             18.4   739 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   SOLVAY                14.8  1130 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   SW SYRACUSE           12.6  1148 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER

...OTSEGO COUNTY...
   1 N HARTWICK          48.4  1200 PM  3/15  COCORAHS
   ONEONTA               33.4   715 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER
   UNADILLA              26.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO

...SCHUYLER COUNTY...
   2 N MONTOUR FALLS     12.3   719 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER

...STEUBEN COUNTY...
   HORNELL               12.5  1100 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   BATH                  11.5   143 PM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   CAMPBELL               9.9   807 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   KANONA                 7.8   820 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL

...TIOGA COUNTY...
   APALACHIN             31.0   751 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   2 E CANDOR            22.0   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   1 SE RICHFORD         17.0   819 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL

...TOMPKINS COUNTY...
   CAROLINE CENTER       24.8   854 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   ETNA                  22.0   430 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER
   NE ITHACA             17.8   300 PM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   ITHACA                14.9   822 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   LANSING               14.2   735 PM  3/15  STORM TOTAL FACEBOOK

...YATES COUNTY...
   1 E VOAK              15.0  1024 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL

PENNSYLVANIA

...BRADFORD COUNTY...
   2 W TOWANDA           27.0   919 AM  3/15  FACEBOOK

...LACKAWANNA COUNTY...
   JUSTUS                30.0   800 AM  3/15  FACEBOOK
   WALLSVILLE            26.5   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   RICHMONDALE           25.0   932 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL

...LUZERNE COUNTY...
   PITTSTON              29.5  1000 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL

...SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY...
   OAKLAND               34.5   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO
   CLIFFORD              30.8   800 AM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO

...WAYNE COUNTY...
   STERLING              27.0   841 AM  3/15  STORM TOTAL
   HAWLEY                25.9   822 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER

...WYOMING COUNTY...
   FALLS                 30.4  1000 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER

Here is a radar loop of National Weather Service radars from 9:18 PM EDT March 12, 2017 (0118 UTC March 13, 2017) to 6:18 AM EDT March 15, 2017 (1018 UTC March 15, 2017). There is no audio with this video.

 

 

Below is a base reflectivity radar loop from the National Weather Service radar Binghamton, NY. The radar loop shows how the Nor'easter that moved up the east coast of the US impacted parts of central New York and northeast Pennsylvania. The loop is from 03/13/2017 8:00 PM EDT (03/14/2017 00:05 UTC) to 03/16/2017 9:57 AM EDT (03/16/2017 13:57 UTC). There is no audio with this video.

Note: The radar changes volume coverage patterns or VCPs during this loop. In the upper right of the image there is VCP 31 or VCP 21. More information on VCP.

The following surface analysis and satellite images are from NOAA's Weather Prediction Center.

The loop starts at 8 PM EDT March 12, 2017 and ends 8 PM EDT March 16, 2017. Most notable feature is the storm, Nor'easter, that forms off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina at 2100 UTC March 13, 2017 or 5 PM March 13, 2017 and moves up the eastern coastline.

Surface Maps/Satellite