We all know by now that Syracuse cruised to a record amount of snow for any December in history dating back to 1902. In fact, we set that record a week ago on December 17^th with 2 stretches of lake effect snow that tallied 46.2” between December 4^th and 9^th and 23.1” between December 13^th and 17^th.   Syracuse even made the New York Times displaying how hearty we are compared to the rest of the state and country!  However, since then, central New York has seen very little measurable snowfall. While there was a considerable amount of cloud coverage, freezing drizzle and flurries, actual snowfall has not accumulated very much at all.  In fact, there has only been 1.2” of snow at Hancock Airport between December 18^th and December 23^rd. Here is the latest tally for top 5 snowiest Decembers and the top 5 snowiest months for any month on record for Syracuse since 1902:

Top 5 snowiest Decembers

1. 72.1" - 2010
1. 70.3" - 2000
3. 64.6" - 1989
4. 57.3" - 2008
5. 53.0" - 2005

All-Time snowiest months ever

1. 78.1" - January 2004

2. 72.6" - February 1958

3. 72.2" - January 1978

4. 72.1" - December 2010

5. 71.0" - January 1966

With only a week left in December and six inches of snow to go to tie the record, can Syracuse accumulate enough snow to top the list?  Normally, you might think yes.  However, it may be tougher than you think.  The recent freezing drizzle & flurries pattern continues today, but will not accumulate much more than a couple of tenths of an inch of snow. This forecast should also hold true for Saturday. In fact, there will probably be even less freezing drizzle for Syracuse on Saturday.  For Sunday into Monday and Monday night, we will continue to monitor that developing nor’easter. However, as we have been telling you all week, that storm will likely to be too far away from central New York to directly impact the area.  That leaves an upper level system plus, and more importantly, any lake effect snow that would develop as strengthening northwesterly winds take hold behind the departing nor’easter. While it is still very early to make any kind of official lake effect snow forecast this far in advance, Sunday’s snow should be very light and to the tune of flurries to only a couple of tenths of an inch of snow. Sunday night, Monday into Monday night would likely be the highest risk for lake effect snow within Syracuse and central New York. Early indications are, though, that a strong and low inversion plus northerly winds may not allow much more than a couple of inches of snow to form. 

After Tuesday’s leftover light snow showers and flurries, the weather will likely get much milder. That will shut off the lake effect snow and any snow for that matter for good for the rest of the 2010.  So, unless Syracuse gets more lake effect snow during the Sunday night through Tuesday morning time frame than I’m expected and/or Syracuse can grind together extra snow through each period, the all time monthly record of 78.1” set back in 2004 could hold strong.  We are almost assured of getting into 2^nd place all time since, Syracuse was only a half an inch away from that level.

What do you think?  Do you think Syracuse will get enough snow to top the all-time list? Let me know by commenting at the bottom of this page. 

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