December 26-27, 2010
Nor 'Easter

A major nor-easter brought significant snows and blizzard conditions to much of the northeastern United States Sunday, December 26th into Monday, December 27th. Low pressure initially developed along the Gulf Coast on Christmas. Once the low reached the southeast coast Christmas night it strengthened and headed northeastward along the east coast Sunday. Explosive deepening (cyclogenesis) occurred Sunday night as the low moved northward toward Long Island with the low eventually passing directly over Cape Cod early Monday morning. The low then proceeded up the New England coast during the day. Bands of heavy snow with snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches an hour occurred across the region. Snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet occurred mainly east of the Hudson River and across adjacent western New England. Snowfall amounts dropped off dramatically to the northwest of the Capital District.

Strong and gusty winds caused significant blowing and drifting of the snow. Winds gusts across the local area were 35 to 45 mph with gusts of 50 to 70 mph reported across southeastern New York, Connecticut and eastern Massachusetts.