What and where are the “snow belts”?

Portions of Western and Central New York are commonly referred to as “Snow Belt” regions of the Northeast.  We often live up to this name with our frequent bouts of lake effect snow which increases the average annual total to 100.3” for Rochester. 

Of the 15 snowiest cities in the United States, four cities are located in New York State.  Syracuse is listed as fourth overall, Buffalo eleventh, Rochester twelfth, and Binghamton fifteenth. 

The snowiest city in the U.S. is Blue Canyon, California with an average annual snowfall of 240.3” (20 feet).  The current United States record for greatest annual snowfall belongs to the ski area in Mount Baker, Washington, where they received an unbelievable 1140” (95 feet) of snow in 1998.