Lake-Effect Snow in Southern Herkimer, New York

A maximum accumulation of 18.5 inches was reported in southern Herkimer County.

Immediately on the heels of a complex winter storm that impacted eastern New York on February 15-16th, 2025, a prolonged lake effect event began with regionwide strong to high winds and bitter cold in the wake of the storm. Lake effect bands became significant off Lake Ontario, extending as far south and east as the Capital District and dumping heavy amounts of snow in Herkimer, Hamilton, Fulton, and Montgomery Counties. Reports of near zero visibility, due to the combination of heavy snow and strong winds inducing blowing snow, came in from emergency managers of Montgomery County who later declared a state of emergency from 4 PM on February 17th through 4 PM on February 18th. Here, the greatest amount of snowfall was about 7 inches near the town of Amsterdam. In Fulton County, while there was no state of emergency declared, 31 motor vehicle accidents were reported, two of which were noted to have sustained injuries. Strongest wind gusts throughout eastern New York ranged from around 40 mph to 55 mph with a peak wind gust of 58 mph recorded in Saratoga Springs. The cold airmass inflicted across the region on the departing side of the storm of the days prior led to wind chill values anywhere from -1 to -20 with the lowest wind chills noted within the Southwest Adirondacks and Eastern Catskills.

Key Impacts: road closures, travel delays, states of emergency, motor-vehicle accidents.