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Archive Guide
Winter Storm Archive - The Winter Storm Archive is the main landing page and contains an archive of nearly 300 winter storms dating back to 1994. Each storm has snowfall maps, a radar animation and surface/upper air maps. It also contains links to other portions of the archive covered below.
Historic Snowstorm Archive - The Historic Snowstorm Archive is a list of all major 12"+ events dating back to 1888. All of these storms from 1994 to present day are also included in the main archive but are filtered here to easily view at a glance. These historic level storms include additional maps, radar and satellite that are not present for other lesser events. It also includes storms prior to 1994 and will be updated with new storms from 1888-1994 in the future.
Seasonal Snowfall Archive - This page has seasonal snowfall maps for Connecticut, Southern New England, the Tri-State Area and the Northeast. It also includes a statistics page for major cities, average snowfall and dedicated pages for recent seasons.
Connecticut Snowfall Maps - The Connecticut Snowfall Maps Archive has only snowfall maps sorted by season back to 1994. There are additional snowfall maps here as the Winter Storm Archive only includes 3"+ events. There are dedicated pages for 12"+, 24"+, early and late season, holiday storms and ice storms.
Tri-State Area Snowfall Maps - The Tri-State Area Snowfall Maps Archive has only snowfall maps sorted by season back to 1994. There are additional snowfall maps here as the Winter Storm Archive Only includes 3"+ events. There are dedicated pages for 12"+, 24"+ and early and late season storms.
Southern New England Snowfall Maps - The Southern New England Snowfall Maps Archive has only snowfall maps sorted by season back to 1994. There are additional snowfall maps here as the Winter Storm Archive Only includes 3"+ events. There are dedicated pages for 12"+, 24"+ and early and late season storms.
Lower Northeast Snowfall Maps - The Lower Northeast Snowfall Maps Archive has only snowfall maps sorted by season back to 1994. There are additional snowfall maps here as the Winter Storm Archive Only includes 3"+ events. There are dedicated pages for historic snowstorms, historic snowstorms with contours only and 30"+ events.
Criteria
Winter Storm Archive - Storms in the WS Archive must have at least one >3" report in CT and at least one >3" report in MA, RI, NY or NJ.
Historic Snowstorm Archive - Storms in the Historic Snowstorms Archive must have a wide area (at least a county or two wide) of >12" reports.
Connecticut Snowfall Maps - Storms must have >1" reports in Connecticut (exceptional events such as very late season or squalls may be less than 1")
Tri-State Area Snowfall Maps - Storms must have >1" reports in Western CT, Southern NY or NJ.
Southern New England Snowfall Maps - Storms must have >1" reports in CT, MA or RI
Lower Northeast Snowfall Maps - Storms must have >1" reports in CT and MA/RI and NY/NJ.
Storm Descriptors
Snowstorm - An all snow event for the vast majority of the area that accumulated 6" or more (warning level snowfall) for at least a portion of the region (a county or two wide).
Snow & Rain Storm - A winter storm that is mostly snow for the majority of the area and a minority of the storm (<50%) is rain. The storm must meet warning level snowfall (6"+) or have significant rainfall (>0.75") for a portion of the area (a county or two wide).
Rain & Snow Storm - A winter storm that is mostly rain for the majority of the area and a minority of the storm (<50%) is snow. The storm must meet warning level snowfall (6"+) or have significant rainfall (>0.75") for a portion of the area (a county or two wide).
Snow & Sleet Storm - A winter storm that is mostly snow and sleet for the majority of the area and meets warning level snowfall (>6" of snow and sleet combined) for a portion of the area (at least a county or two wide).
Snow & Ice Storm - A winter storm that is mostly snow and ice for the majority of the area and meets warning level snowfall (>6") or Ice Storm Warning criteria (>0.5" of ice) for a portion of the area (at least a county or two wide).
Snow & (Sleet, Ice or Rain) Storm - (e.g. Snow, Sleet & Ice Storm) A winter storm that has a variety of precipitation types along with snow and meets warning level snowfall (>6") or has significant rainfall (>0.75") for a portion of the area (at least a county or two wide).
Blizzard - An all snow event for the vast majority of the area that accumulated 6" or more (warning level snowfall) for at least a portion of the region (a county or two wide). The storm meets Blizzard Warning criteria for a portion of the area (at least a few airport sites). Blizzard criteria is defined as snow or blowing snow with wind gusts 35+ mph that reduces visibility to 1/4 mile or less for at least 3 consecutive hours.
Snow & (Sleet, Ice or Rain) Blizzard - A blizzard that has a variety of precipitation types (sleet, freezing rain or rain) that meets warning level snowfall (>6") and meets blizzard criteria defined above.
Light Snow Event - An all snow event for the majority of the area that accumulates at least 3" (advisory level snowfall) but less than 6" for at least a portion of the area (a county or two wide).
Light Snow & Rain Event - A light event that is mostly snow for the majority of the area and a minority of the storm (<50%) is rain. It must accumulate at least 3" (advisory level snowfall) but less than 6" for at least a portion of the area (a county or two wide) and has rainfall totals generally less than 0.75".
Light Rain & Snow Event - A light event that is mostly rain for the majority of the area and a minority of the storm (<50%) is snow. It must accumulate at least 3" (advisory level snowfall) but less than 6" for at least a portion of the area (a county or two wide) and has rainfall totals generally less than 0.75".
Light Snow & (Sleet, Ice or Rain) Event - A light winter event with a variety of precipitation types including a combination of snow, sleet, ice or rain that accumulates more than 3" but less than 6" for a portion of the area (at least a county or two wide) and has rainfall totals generally less than 0.75" and ice totals less than 0.5".
Snow Squall Event -A snow event where the majority of the accumulating snow was from numerous snow squalls or snow showers. Total snowfall must be at least 3" for a portion of the area (at least a county or two wide). Some squalls may produce localized amounts over 6".
Miscellaneous Info
Snowfall Maps Backgrounds - Each season of snowfall maps has a unique background image. The purpose of this was not just aesthetics but to easily identify any storm with it's corresponding season.
Unique Snowfall Ranges - Every event has a set of snowfall ranges that fit appropriately with the storm. Each map for every storm has snowfall ranges that apply only to that area. For example a CT map may cut off at 3-6"/6-10" while the same storm for Southern New England may include 0-1"/1-3"/3-6"/6-10"/10-14".
Lower Northeast Maps - Lower Northeast maps are new additions to the site and are a composite of Southern New England and the Tri-State Area. These maps are unique in the fact they have all the major climate sites highlighted in yellow and also have mirror images with only contours (no reports) for each storm.
Counters - A total storm count was added for the Winter Storm Archive and Historic Snowstorms Archive. There is also a counter for total snowfall maps on the site in the Snowfall Maps page. This counter does not include CT ice storms, seasonal snowfall maps or L. Northeast contours only maps.
Updates - The archive and wesbsite is updated on a semi-daily basis and all the significant changes or additions to the site can be found here.
Snowfall Totals
White - Bottom of the range that represents less than 1" snowfall. This range will typically be 0-1".
Light Blue - Second range is sub-advisory level snowfall (3"). This range will typically be 1-2" or 1-3".
Blue - Third range is advisory level snowfall (3"). This range will typically be 2-4", 2-5", 3-5" or 3-6".
Dark Blue - Fourth range is warning level snowfall (6"). This range will typically be 4-8", 5-10", 6-9" or 6-10".
Purple - Fifth range is a level up from warning level snowfall. This range will typically be 8-12", 8-14", 10-14" or 10-15".
Pink - Sixth range is two levels up from warning level snowfall. This range will typically be 12-16", 12-18", 14-20 or 15-20".
Light Pink - Seventh range is three levels up from warning level snowfall. This range will typically be 18-24", 20-30" or simply 20"+.
Very Light Pink - Eighth range is four levels up from warning level snowfall. This range will typically be 30-40" or simply 30"+.
Extremely Light Pink - Ninth range is five levels up from warning level snowfall. This range will typically be 40-50" or simply 40"+.
White - Tenth range is six levels up from warning level snowfall. This range will typically be 50-60" or simply 50"+.
Seasonal Snowfall Totals
Ranges 1-4 - Fixed ranges at 6" increments.
Ranges 5-8- Fixed ranges at 12" increments.
Ranges 9 & 10 - Fixed range at a 24" increment and the final range is 96"+.
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