The snow storm of December 16-17, 2020 was definitely one for the record books. If not for the most snow from a single storm, definitely one for the greatest amount of snow to fall in a 24 hour period. (Then again most of the snow fell in 12 hours!)
After researching climate data from the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) for Glens Falls I have come up with the following:
First there are big "time gaps" in the data. The climate database now includes a hodge-podge of weather observations from various locations around but close to Glens Falls; that is the new database includes records from more than the current "official" site for Glens Falls - the Warren county airport (aka Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport).
With the expansion of the database using other sites within the "Glens Falls region" now allows for records to be extended back to 1893. But once again as I stated above there are huge gaps of months, weeks and YEARS in using this data set. So when and if new "missing" data is uncovered much of my quick research is subject to change.
But for NOW, using the current database as it exists this is what I have come up with:
For the month of December the storm of the 16th and 17th was a record for the following categories:
1) A daily snowfall record on the 17th - 32.5"
2) The most snow to have fallen in a 24 hour period for any given month.
3) A Dec. Snowstorm record: - 33.8" (1.3" observed on the 16th prior to midnight). The previous record was 18" set on Dec 14th-15th, 1915.
In terms of all-time snow storms, again using the database going back to 1893 (snowfall record for the period from 1893 through 2020), the snowfall from the December 16th-17th storm would rank as the top storm of all-time for Glens Falls. The total was 33.8"; the previous record was 33" of snow measured on February 14, 1914.
