Snowiest Winters in New York City History

These are the ten snowiest winters in New York City history from 1869 to the present as measured by snow totals in Central Park reported by the National Weather Service.

First a few notes about Snow in New York City

The average annual snowfall in New York City is 28 inches.

Every winter on the list of snowiest winters had at least 52 inches of snow but only 5 of the top 10 winters doubled the yearly average snowfall in NYC.

Half of the top 10 snowiest months in New York City history occurred during one of the snowiest winters in history but the all-time snowiest month occurred during a year that does not make this list.

In general snowfall in New York City is sporadic and once on the ground the snow rarely lasts more than a few weeks.

Winter-time temperatures of 40 plus degrees are not at all unusual in NYC and even 50 and 60 degree days are not that rare. It's a rare winter when snow stays on the ground for more than a month.

A typical winter in New York City might see a snowstorm dump a foot of snow but then the snow is all gone before another snowstorm drops more snow.

The Great Blizzard of 1888 dumped 22 inches of snow in Central Park but the rest of that year was generally mild and the year does not make this list.

New York City has never had a winter when it did not see some snowfall but years of less than a foot of snow do occur.

There have been far more green Christmases than White Christmases in New York City history.

Top 10 Snowiest Winters in NYC History

1) 1995 to 1996 - 75.6 inches

2) 1947 to 1948 - 63.2"

3) 1922 to 1923 - 60.4"

4) 1874 to 1875 - 58.8"

5) 1872 to 1873 - 58.5"

6) 1898 to 1899 - 55.9"

7) 1960 to 1961 - 54.7"

8) 1993 to 1994 - 53.4"

9) 1906 to 1907 - 53.2"

10) 1933 to 1934 - 52"

The last snowiest winter in New York City occurred in 1995 to 1996 but that does not mean NYC has had mild winters since.

Three of the top ten snowiest months in New York City history have all occurred in the last few years. And most of the years in the last decade have seen above average snowfall.

For more see Top 10 Snowiest Months in New York City History

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Sources:

National Weather Service