Hudson Valley's Snowiest Days Ever

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 the Hudson Valley, 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 6-1/2 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 4-1/2 inches.

In the Hudson Valley, the biggest one-day snowfalls were as follows:

• Dutchess County: 24 inches; Feb. 8, 1895
• Orange County: 29 inches; Jan. 20, 1961
• Putnam County: 25 inches; Dec. 27, 1947
• Rockland County: 27 inches; Jan. 8, 1996
• Ulster County: 29 inches; Feb. 26, 2010
• Westchester County: 27 inches; Dec. 27, 1947

In New York, the record goes to Oneida County, when it snowed 50 inches Feb. 1, 1966.

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 our state, the Old Farmer's Almanac said the northeast can count on a "slush fund," as "more wet than white" conditions will leave sludgy messes that freeze during the overnights.

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.

In New York, the Farmers' Almanac predicts fair and very cold weather for Jan. 20-23; gusty winds with rain changing to snow for Jan. 24-27 and very cold air, with heavy lake-effect snow showers/squalls lee of the Great Lakes for Jan. 28-31.

In the short term, the seven-day National Weather Service prediction for the Hudson Valley calls for:

• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 30. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
• Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 13. Light northwest wind.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 36. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Light and variable wind.
• Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Calm wind.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Calm wind.
• Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.
• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43.
• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.
• Saturday: A chance of snow before 9am, then rain and snow likely between 9am and 3pm, then rain likely after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Saturday Night: Rain and snow likely, becoming all snow after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Sunday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.
• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40.