James Reardon & Justin Hartnett

Abstract: To date, snowfall accumulations in the 2021/22 winter season have been anomalously low in Central New York. Analysis of snowfall data is an important piece of building sustainability since it links to the wicked problem we currently face – climate change.  Since snowfall totals are an accumulation of snowfall from individual storms, this research examines whether a lack of snowfall is linked to the absence of a particular storm type, and whether certain storm types contribute more to the seasonal snowpack.  Data collected includes recorded snowfall totals, snow depth, and snow water equivalency (SWE) in the City of Oneonta, NY. The data collected were compared to climatological averages from Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) stations throughout seven counties in Upstate New York. Data were analyzed using ArcGIS and statistical software. Preliminary findings suggest that heavy snowfall events have been lacking this past season, mostly due to below average snowfall from Nor’easters and lake-effect storms.  Although numerous storms occurred, more mixed precipitation or rainfall events occurred than snowstorms. This season could be a microcosm of an overall trend in snowfall and should be investigated further. As temperatures warm due to anthropogenic climate change, it is paramount to understand how snowstorms will adapt. Communities in Upstate New York rely on a continuous snow depth for agriculture, recreation, hydrology, water resources, and pest control. Due to the importance of snowfall and snow depth in the region, future monitoring studies are needed, in part to investigate how climate change will play a role in overall sustainability goals.