Elevation Snowstorm
October 28-29, 2008

A strong cold front moved across the region Monday, October 27th ushering in a cold airmass. In the meantime, energy in the upper levels of the atmosphere moved into and rotated through the deep upper level trough over the eastern United States initiating strong cyclogenesis off the mid atlantic coast Monday night. On Tuesday, October 28th the low strengthened as it headed northward crossing Long Island in the morning and western New England Tuesday afternoon and evening, before heading into Quebec Canada Tuesday night. The thermal profile was critical. It was cold enough for snow across the higher elevations of the Catskills early Tuesday morning. Basically rain was occurring below 1000 feet, with mainly snow above 2000 feet and a mix of rain and snow at elevations between 1000 to 2000 feet. As the low moved northward Tuesday colder air was drawn into the region from the southwest causing the rain to mix with and even change to snow down to the valley floor. Snowfall reports varied greatly across counties, especiallyto the west of the Hudson River. Across Albany County snowfall reports ranged from a trace in Albany up to 13 inches in Medusa. The highest totals reported were 20 inches in East Jewett Greene County and Slide Mountain Ulster County. In addition, generally one to two inches of rain was also reported with the storm.