Top 10 Snowiest Months in New York City History

These are the ten snowiest months in New York City history from 1869 to the present. Snow totals are from Central Park and reported by the National Weather Service.

A few notes first.

In 1888 a massive snowstorm or blizzard hit the northeastern part of the United States including New York City from March 11 to March 14. The snowstorm dumped up to 4 feet of snow in many places along the East Coast including Saratoga Springs, NY (58 inches), Albany, NY (4 feet) and New Haven, Connecticut (45 inches).

The official tally from this monster blizzard in Central Park, New York City was 22 inches. The beginning of the month of March in 1888 and after the Great Blizzard was mild in temperature so the month of March 1888 does not make this list. In fact after the storm temperatures warmed up in many places and caused massive flooding as the snow melted.

The average annual snowfall in New York City is 28 inches. Seven out of the top 10 snowiest months in New York City history have reached or exceeded the annual average.

The snowiest winter ever in New York City was in 1995-1996 but not one month from that winter makes this list. Conversely the snowiest month in New York City history occurred in a winter that does not make the top 10 snowiest winters in NYC history.

Snowfall in New York City is generally sporadic unlike in upstate New York where it is not unusual for snow to start falling in November to December and stay on the ground until March or April. Snow rarely covers Central Park and NYC for more than a few weeks at a time.

So even though all the months on this list of snowiest months in NYC history are over two feet of snow the snow rarely stays on the ground for the entire month. It does happen but it is the extreme in NYC rather than the norm.

Top 10 Snowiest Months in NYC History

1. February 2010 - 36.9 inches

2. January 2011 - 36" 

3. March 1896 - 30.5"

4. December 1947 - 29.6"

5. February 2014 - 29"

T-6. January 2016 - 27.9"

T-6. February 1934 - 27.9"

8. January 1925 - 27.4"

9. December 1872 - 27.0"

10. February 2006 - 26.9"

On thing that really stands out is that 5 of the 10 snowiest months occurred over the last 10 years. So out of 148 years of weather history, 5 out of 10 of the top ten snowiest months in New York City history have occurred in the last 10 years.

So much for global warming in New York City.

Sources:

National Weather Service