Snowiest Day On Record: The Day Mercer County Saw Most Snowfall

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Only a few centenarians may remember April 15, 1921, the day it snowed 76 inches in Boulder County, Colorado. Snowfall records for a single day aren’t quite as impressive in Mercer County, according to an analysis of government weather data.

Historical weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows every state in the country, even tropical Hawaii, has seen snow. A February 1936 storm that dumped 6½ inches of snow on Maui was impressive even by Midwest and Northeast standards. The only other time that Hawaii had an extreme snowfall was in December 1958, when the Big Island got 4½ inches.

In Mercer County, the biggest one-day snowfall was March 12, 1888. On that day, 21 inches of snow fell in Trenton.

That compares to records in neighboring counties:

Burlington County, 19.6 inches: Dec. 20, 2009 in Mount Laurel
Middlesex County, 28 inches: Dec. 27, 2010 in South Plainfield

With two months of winter left, there are plenty of chances to break those records. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicted a cold, snowy winter throughout much of the United States, with at least seven big snowstorms from one coast to the other.

In New Jersey, the Old Farmer's Almanac calls for it to be wet and warmer than normal.
The region "can bank on a slush fund as 'more wet than white' conditions will leave sludgy messes that freeze during the overnights," its forecast says.

The competing Farmers' Almanac predicts that the eastern two-thirds of the United States can expect a snowy ride through the rest of the winter.

Here in New Jersey, the Farmers' Almanac is add odds with its "old" cousin, forecasting colder-than-normal temperatures and a lot of snow, with the frostiest snap coming during the last week of January and stretching into February. Winter weather will last into April, the "Farmers" say.

For the next several days the National Weather Service is calling for tranquil and improving weather conditions. New Jersey will exceed the freezing mark today with temps into the mid 30 with plenty of sunshine.

Thursday will be even warmer with temps into the 40s with more sunshine and on Friday more sun and temps climbing into the mid 40s.

As of right now the weekend weather forecast is very up in the air with a chance for some snow and rain both days but the forecast track remains uncertain at this time.

In Mercer County, the weather forecast for the next several days is as follows, according to the National Weather Service:

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Light and variable wind.

Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Calm wind.

Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 48. East wind 3 to 7 mph.

Friday Night
Rain likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday
Rain. High near 44. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday Night
A chance of rain before 4am, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday
A chance of rain and snow showers before 1pm, then a chance of rain showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night
A chance of rain and snow showers before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.