Forecasts Called for New York and New Jersey to Wake Up to a Few Inches of Snow. As Much as 10” Hit the Ground as the Storm Shifted North.

It’s axiomatic that the only weather forecast that is accurate is the one  obtained by looking out the window. People in the New York metro area who looked out the window shortly before bedtime saw a surprise, what turned out to be a fairly heavy snowfall by the time the white stuff stopped falling around 10 a.m. EST.
It’s fair to say that weather forecasting has come a long way since the 1970s thanks to greatly improved technology, and having more accurate forecasts is not only a matter of convenience but also saves lives. But when it comes to predicting snow storms and total snow fall, the technology clearly isn’t there yet.
At the start of the week, forecasters in Boston predicted anywhere from 7” to 13” (178 mm to 330 mm) for Monday. Ultimately, the total snowfall was 0.1” (2,5 mm) after the storm shifted its direction several times. At the end of the week, forecasters in Washington, D.C. called for 1” to 5” of snow, but the region saw anywhere from trace amounts to several inches at the most.
Meanwhile, winter storm warnings for New Jersey were only issued at 2 a.m. in the morning on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the forecast for New York City and environs called for 2” to 3” (51 mm to 76 mm) at the most, although some meteorologists added a caveat that, if the storm shifts further north, snow totals would increase.
Forecasts called for “light snow” to start at 1 a.m. Saturday. The storm, however shifted north, and snow began to fall in New York City well before midnight.
By the time the storm had moved out to sea, the Big Apple had gotten almost one foot (305 mm).  LaGuardia Airport reported only 2.7” (69 mm) but John F. Kennedy International Airport measured 6.1” (155 mm).  Coney Island reported 8.9” (226 mm) while Tottenville, a neighborhood in Staten Island, got 10” (254 mm).
In New Jersey, snowfall averaged 2” to 3” (51 mm to 76 mm), although parts of Union County saw as much as 7.7” (196 mm).  Nassau County on Long Island saw between 2.7” (69 mm)  in Syosset to 6.6” (168 mm) in Oceanside, and Suffolk County saw between 5.6” (142 mm) in Patchogue to 2” (51 mm) in Huntington.
Finally, in Connecticut, Danbury recorded 3.1” (77 mm) while the low for the Nutmeg State was Bridgeport with 1” (25 mm).
(Photo: Accura Media Group)