ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) \u2014 New York City residents are digging themselves out of nearly two feet of snow after a strong Nor\u2019easter battered the East Coast Sunday into Monday. Much of the East Coast, including NYC, Philadelphia, and Boston, was under Blizzard Warnings for the event. How often does this happen?<\/p>\n
A blizzard is defined by the National Weather Service as \u201ca storm which contains large amounts of snow OR blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1\/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours).\u201d While significant snowfall accumulation is usually present during a Blizzard Warning, there is no snowfall amount requirement; rather, the wind and reduced visibility are what can bump a storm to a Blizzard Warning.<\/p>\n
The Iowa Environmental Mesonet keeps an Events Database for NWS watches, warnings, and advisories that dates back to 1986. Below is a table detailing location, frequency of blizzard warnings since 1986 (including this weekend\u2019s storm), most recent blizzard warning issuance (excluding this weekend\u2019s storm), and the earliest known blizzard warning.<\/p>\n
NOTE: It is possible that blizzard conditions existed without a blizzard warning, and a storm was only deemed a blizzard in hindsight. It is also possible that some data is missing or incomplete from this database, especially dating into the previous century. This table represents only the data available.<\/p>\n
LOCATION (COUNTY)<\/p>\n
# OF BLIZZARD WARNINGS SINCE 1986<\/p>\n
MOST RECENT BLIZZARD WARNING BEFORE 2\/21\/26<\/p>\n
EARLIEST BLIZZARD WARNING SINCE 1986<\/p>\n
New York City (5 counties)<\/p>\n
8<\/p>\n
March 2017<\/p>\n
February 2010<\/p>\n
Suffolk, MA (Boston)<\/p>\n
11<\/p>\n
January 2022<\/p>\n
February 2006<\/p>\n
Philadelphia, PA<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
January 2016<\/p>\n
February 2010<\/p>\n
Monroe<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
Orleans<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
December 2022<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
Genesee<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
December 2022<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
Wyoming<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
February 2020<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
Ontario<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
Livingston<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
Wayne<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
December 2016<\/p>\n
March 2014<\/p>\n
Yates<\/p>\n
N\/A<\/p>\n
N\/A<\/p>\n
N\/A<\/p>\n
You can see from this table that blizzard conditions are more likely to occur in New York City or Boston than here in Rochester. Their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean (and, thus, being in a zone for Nor\u2019easters) helps to increase winds to blizzard level. Our area doesn\u2019t always get the right ingredients for that.<\/p>\n
However, despite less frequent blizzards in Rochester, our city averages more than triple NYC\u2019s snow amounts each winter season. And we average more than double the amount of snowfall in Boston. We have the Great Lakes to thank for that!<\/p>\n
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