Rank 'Em

[ag3]

Absolutely right man 96' lasted longer, had more snow over a much wider area and shut down pretty much d.c., philadelphia, nyc and boston....boxing day was to me a localized jackpot storm where jersey got the big totals and other areas a foot. The wind with boxing day blizzard was a hell of a lot more intense though, felt like an arctic blizzard at times during the over night hours. Both storms were brutal though and were to me top 5 all time northeast snowstorms but giving the edge to 96' still

Boxing day was 1996 totals for Jersey and some in NYC.

1996 were earthlight totals from DC to Boston with 30"++ common around NYC and Jersey.

As Cat said, the ULL also dropped a few more inches and the official stations never even added it to the snow from blizzard. There was no internet like today and a whole board of weather freaks who report their totals to the NWS, like today.

Also, a lot of stations reported their totals in DEPTH in 1996. Not total snow, every 6 hours, like today. Big difference.

[ORH_wxman]

Absolutely right man 96' lasted longer, had more snow over a much wider area and shut down pretty much d.c., philadelphia, nyc and boston....boxing day was to me a localized jackpot storm where jersey got the big totals and other areas a foot. The wind with boxing day blizzard was a hell of a lot more intense though, felt like an arctic blizzard at times during the over night hours. Both storms were brutal though and were to me top 5 all time northeast snowstorms but giving the edge to 96' still

You can't really claim this about Boxing day because it didn't hit a wide enough area. There's a reason its listed below 19 other snowstorms in the Kocin rankings. Its definitely a top 5 for NYC metro though...probably not for BOS even though they got 18", not enough widespread high totals in BOS metro.

But for northeast storms on the whole, Boxing Day is like AAA team compared to Blizzard of '96 and March 1960. For areas that got under the intense banding though, Boxing Day certainly has plenty of reason to be ranked at or near the top of those people's lists for their own BY.

[TheTrials]

You can't really claim this about Boxing day because it didn't hit a wide enough area. There's a reason its listed below 19 other snowstorms in the Kocin rankings. Its definitely a top 5 for NYC metro though...probably not for BOS even though they got 18", not enough widespread high totals in BOS metro.

But for northeast storms on the whole, Boxing Day is like AAA team compared to Blizzard of '96 and March 1960. For areas that got under the intense banding though, Boxing Day certainly has plenty of reason to be ranked at or near the top of those people's lists for their own BY.

Well said.

[ag3]

You can't really claim this about Boxing day because it didn't hit a wide enough area. There's a reason its listed below 19 other snowstorms in the Kocin rankings. Its definitely a top 5 for NYC metro though...probably not for BOS even though they got 18", not enough widespread high totals in BOS metro.

But for northeast storms on the whole, Boxing Day is like AAA team compared to Blizzard of '96 and March 1960. For areas that got under the intense banding though, Boxing Day certainly has plenty of reason to be ranked at or near the top of those people's lists for their own BY.

But the areas that got nailed by Boxing day also received 20"-30" of snow from 1996. Maybe even more. No organized weather board to know. We have to go solely based on the airports, co-op stations, etc. Not dozens of localized reports from users.

1996 lasted for so long, was much colder and had a much bigger impact.

Imagine this board if we ever got hit by a 1996 clone? Wow.

[ORH_wxman]

But the areas that got nailed by Boxing day also received 20"-30" of snow from 1996. Maybe even more. No organized weather board to know. We have to go solely based on the airports, co-op stations, etc. Not dozens of localized reports from users.

1996 lasted for so long, was much colder and had a much bigger impact.

Imagine this board if we ever got hit by a 1996 clone? Wow.

Yes, but the winds were more intense in Boxing Day so for those people who got near 30" in both storms, I could see why they would rank it higher than 1996 if they deem winds important. Boxing Day also had more intense snowfall rates than 1996 for those who got into the banding, so if people use snowfall rates as part of their rankings, then it has that going for it too. But certainly for the northeast as a whole, 1996 was a more impressive snowfall.

[TheTrials]

But the areas that got nailed by Boxing day also received 20"-30" of snow from 1996. Maybe even more. No organized weather board to know. We have to go solely based on the airports, co-op stations, etc. Not dozens of localized reports from users.

1996 lasted for so long, was much colder and had a much bigger impact.

Imagine this board if we ever got hit by a 1996 clone? Wow.

People who were not old enough or not alive do not understand what its like to have a storm go from 6am sunday morning to 2pm Monday afternoon with only one little break. And when it started the flakes were gorgeous from the get go. The last few storms have put down such crazy amounts in such a short amount of time and then the storm is over. 96 was like a snow storm vacation compared to recent events that were more like a day off or long weekend.

[Stormlover74]

That could be said for almost any storm though....How on earth would we know how accurate the measurements were from the blizzard of '88 for example?

I'm also amazed that its almost 4th of july weekend and we have over 150 posts about favorite snow storms

But the areas that got nailed by Boxing day also received 20"-30" of snow from 1996. Maybe even more. No organized weather board to know. We have to go solely based on the airports, co-op stations, etc. Not dozens of localized reports from users.

1996 lasted for so long, was much colder and had a much bigger impact.

Imagine this board if we ever got hit by a 1996 clone? Wow.

[CAT5ANDREW]

But the areas that got nailed by Boxing day also received 20"-30" of snow from 1996. Maybe even more. No organized weather board to know. We have to go solely based on the airports, co-op stations, etc. Not dozens of localized reports from users.1996 lasted for so long, was much colder and had a much bigger impact.Imagine this board if we ever got hit by a 1996 clone? Wow.

How about a FEB 6-10 2010 2 snowstorms here in NYC with 50+ inch totals? I would love that more than anything..

[CAT5ANDREW]

People who were not old enough or not alive do not understand what its like to have a storm go from 6am sunday morning to 2pm Monday afternoon with only one little break.  And when it started the flakes were gorgeous from the get go.  The last few storms have put down such crazy amounts in such a short amount of time and then the storm is over.  96 was like a snow storm vacation compared to recent events that were more like a day off or long weekend.

If Boxing day and 1/26-27th were slower and stalled for a time...imagine what we would have received?

[ag3]

1996 snow totals from a NY times article:

LGA: 24"

Bronx: 25"

Brooklyn: 23.7"

Bay Shore, LI: 31"

Newark: 27.6"

Cherry Hill, NJ: 33"

Elizabeth, NJ: 28.5"

Jersey City: 29.5"

Not from article: NE Queens and Mid-Central Queens were 30"-32". As accounted by me, Cat5 and Sundog. Western North shore of LI also had over 30".

[CAT5ANDREW]

That could be said for almost any storm though....How on earth would we know how accurate the measurements were from the blizzard of '88 for example?I'm also amazed that its almost 4th of july weekend and we have over 150 posts about favorite snow storms <img src='http://208.71.34.143/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

NOt a single station reported the added accumulation from the backlash band on the 8th.not a single one.I picked up 5 more inches with that band.

[ag3]

If Boxing day and 1/26-27th were slower and stalled for a time...imagine what we would have received?

How about the Feb 26th, 2010 storm? If it were a little more east, we would've received 3' of snow. QPF amounts were insane and warm surface killed the accumulations for the 1st half of storm and rain killed people east of Queens.

[ag3]

That could be said for almost any storm though....How on earth would we know how accurate the measurements were from the blizzard of '88 for example?

I'm also amazed that its almost 4th of july weekend and we have over 150 posts about favorite snow storms

1996 snow totals from a NY times article:

LGA: 24"

Bronx: 25"

Brooklyn: 23.7"

Bay Shore, LI: 31"

Newark: 27.6"

Cherry Hill, NJ: 33"

Elizabeth, NJ: 28.5"

Jersey City: 29.5"

Not from article: NE Queens and Mid-Central Queens were 30"-32". As accounted by me, Cat5 and Sundog. Western North shore of LI also had over 30".

Same areas that got nailed from Boxing day had similar snow totals from 1996 as well. 1996 however was 24+ hours+ of snow with hours and hours of overrunning before the coastal bombed and we got into blizzard conditions.

Imagine Boxing day with 8 hours of overrunning before the coastal.

[CAT5ANDREW]

How about the Feb 26th, 2010 storm? If it were a little more east, we wouldve received 3' of snow. QPF amounts were insane and warm surface killed the accumulations for the 1st half of storm and rain killed people east of Queens.

Very True.Harriman NY and by the Woodbury Commons Shopping center in Rockland County got 35-40 inches from that storm while Brewster NY got very little.THat storm was unique as the heavy snowbands came from the NNE.I have never seen that before in a snowstorm.

[ORH_wxman]

Same areas that got nailed from Boxing day had similar snow totals from 1996 as well. 1996 however was 24+ hours+ of snow with hours and hours of overrunning before the coastal bombed and we got into blizzard conditions.

Imagine Boxing day with 8 hours of overrunning before the coastal.

Boxing day was a stronger more rapidly deepening storm than 1996 which is why the snowfall rates were more intense in the commahead. If it had stalled, then it would have been an epic storm for a large area, but the pattern was just not conducive to stalling.

1996 was a weaker slower moving storm which is a lot of the reason it dumped so much snow over a large area. From a pure bombogenesis standpoint, Boxing Day was more impressive than 1996, but for snowfall coverage, 1996 blows it out of the water.

[forkyfork]

lol at the same people who constantly downplay boxing day... i'm sorry you got 18- 20" instead of 30"

[CAT5ANDREW]

Boxing day was a stronger more rapidly deepening storm than 1996 which is why the snowfall rates were more intense in the commahead. If it had stalled, then it would have been an epic storm for a large area, but the pattern was just not conducive to stalling. 1996 was a weaker slower moving storm which is a lot of the reason it dumped so much snow over a large area. From a pure bombogenesis standpoint, Boxing Day was more impressive than 1996, but for snowfall coverage, 1996 blows it out of the water.

JAN 22nd 2005 on Cape Cod beats EVERYONE though.100MPH winds,8 inches per hour with temps in the teens.38 inches or some amount like that.

[ag3]

Boxing day was a stronger more rapidly deepening storm than 1996 which is why the snowfall rates were more intense in the commahead. If it had stalled, then it would have been an epic storm for a large area, but the pattern was just not conducive to stalling.

1996 was a weaker slower moving storm which is a lot of the reason it dumped so much snow over a large area. From a pure bombogenesis standpoint, Boxing Day was more impressive than 1996, but for snowfall coverage, 1996 blows it out of the water.

Yup. If Boxing day had stalled, we would not be arguing which is the greatest storm.

[Sundog]

I don't think enough emphasis is given to the fact that the numbers posted from the 96 blizzard are depth, not total snowfall. LGA reported a 24 inch snow depth at the end of the storm with only one inch being reported before the blizzard commerced. If LGA somehow reported that much snow depth you know we got pummeled with something like 30 inches of snow.

[ag3]

lol at the same people who constantly downplay boxing day... i'm sorry you got 18- 20" instead of 30"

Not downplaying it at all.

Just no comparison for the majority of the east coast to 1996. Thats all.

[ag3]

I don't think enough emphasis is given to the fact that the numbers posted from the 96 blizzard are depth, not total snowfall. LGA reported a 24 inch snow depth at the end of the storm with only one inch being reported before the blizzard commerced. If LGA somehow reported that much snow depth you know we got pummeled with something like 30 inches of snow.

Yup. I have tried to point this out at least a dozen times. Lots of locations were reporting snow by depth back then.

[Sundog]

Not downplaying it at all.

Just no comparison for the majority of the east coast to 1996. Thats all.

I actually love Boxing Day it was the most intense storm Ive experienced since 96 when you consider the wind.

[ag3]

I actually love Boxing Day it was the most intense storm Ive experienced since 96 when you consider the wind.

Definitely the most intense storm. Even more intense then 1996, for a short period of time.

[TheTrials]

Not downplaying it at all.

Just no comparison for the majority of the east coast to 1996. Thats all.

And also I think it comes down to do you like your storms over 12 hours or 30. Since snow storms are so hard to get, its nice to have one that lasts a while. And its not like 96 was light snow for all that time either, it was moderate to heavy for a lot of it with the end a little more choppy.

No doubt boxing day wins hands down for intensity and wind.

[uncle W]

I think March 1956 might also fit, not quite as cold as March 1960 but close, and being 16 days later the normals were 5-6F higher.

3/19/1956: 26/23

3/3/1960: 27/18

However, I don't recall any 1960-type winds/drifting in 1956.

Also glad for the Feb 1961 exception, even though NYC was near freezing with mix (none at my NNJ home.) That storm fell atop considerable existing snowpack, probably my only significant "powder on powder" event in my 20 yr of wx memories in NNJ. It also produced the fastest winds ever recorded in February at KNYC, and the deepest snowpack, by about a foot, ever recorded in NNJ.

That stretch, 3/56 thru 2/61, was almost unprecedented (until these past two winters) for 10"+ storms at NYC, with 6 plus a 9.9 recorded. In my NNJ backyard, we had 6 events 18-24" during that period. Even in Maine I've not had 18" snowfalls with that kind of frequency - best is 4 from 12/03 thru 2/09.

I was a few days shy of my 7th birthday in March 56...I remember some of it vaguely...I forgot April 82...It's almost 30 years since that storm and I still can't believe it happened on April 6th...The last six years yielded three 20"+ storms with another 19 inch one...six total 10"+...I still think snow was measured differently back then...

[Diego]

JAN 22nd 2005 on Cape Cod beats EVERYONE though.100MPH winds,8 inches per hour with temps in the teens.38 inches or some amount like that.

But the mother of all snowstorms on the East Coast took place in portions of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 1992. The excerpt below was taken from The Weather Doctor.

1,2 February 1992, Moncton, New Brunswick: A major winter storm blasts the Maritimes dumping 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) of snow across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Moncton registers 163.7 cm (64 inches) of snow setting their all time single storm record.

Below are the links from Environment Canada for the stats for Moncton for the months of Jan. and Feb., 1992.

http://www.climate.w...2&Month=1&Day=1

http://www.climate.w...2&Month=2&Day=2

[A-L-E-X]

1996 snow totals from a NY times article:

LGA: 24"

Bronx: 25"

Brooklyn: 23.7"

Bay Shore, LI: 31"

Newark: 27.6"

Cherry Hill, NJ: 33"

Elizabeth, NJ: 28.5"

Jersey City: 29.5"

Not from article: NE Queens and Mid-Central Queens were 30"-32". As accounted by me, Cat5 and Sundog. Western North shore of LI also had over 30".

That's what I remember too-- there was a second maxima over the south shore of Suffolk County which is why Babylon and Bayshore both had around 30 inches or a bit more.

[A-L-E-X]

How about the Feb 26th, 2010 storm? If it were a little more east, we would've received 3' of snow. QPF amounts were insane and warm surface killed the accumulations for the 1st half of storm and rain killed people east of Queens.

Meh, we still got over a foot of snow here so it was a great way to end the season lol

[A-L-E-X]

If Boxing day and 1/26-27th were slower and stalled for a time...imagine what we would have received?

Not to mention 1/10/11.... if that had been about 4 hours slower we would have had 60 inches of snow in a 30 day period lol.

[forkyfork]

records are records for a reason

if x happened, then this would have happened!