A low pressure area formed over the southeastern states on December 5. At the same time, a large arctic high became established over eastern Canada. The storm tracked off the Virginia coastline on December 6, then took a track along the eastern seaboard as a classic nor'easter. The storm interacted with the strong high in eastern Canada, which caused it to move very slowly and keep cold air locked in place so that the precipitation fell as all snow.  It took over a day for the storm  to move northeast of Cape Cod, which was not until late December 7. The result was not only the first major snowstorm of the winter season. Snow began in the mid Hudson Valley very early Saturday morning, and covered the whole region by late in the day. A band of heavy snow, with rates up to 3 inches per hour, settled over the Taconics for awhile on Saturday afternoon into the evening hours. The storm lasted about 30 hours. By the time the low pressure had moved to the east, a general swath of one to two feet of snow had fallen  across the region, with lighter amounts of 6-12 inches noted over the western Mohawk Valley to the Adirondacks. At Albany, the official 18-inch storm total made this the 15th greatest snowstorm ever, and the 7th greatest December snowstorm on record. Other samplings of snowfall amounts included 14.6 inches at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County and 22 inches at Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County. Incredibly high amounts fell east of Albany in Rensselaer County with 32 inches noted at Averill Park  and up to 39 inches at West Sand Lake! The storm caused numerous flight cancellations at Albany International Airport. Many localities declared snow emergencies. There were quite a few vehicular accidents but most were minor. The impact of the snowstorm was minimized since it took place during a weekend. However, the storm seriously disrupted holiday sales and travel.

Winter Storm in EASTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in WESTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in EASTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in EASTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in EASTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN FULTON, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in HAMILTON, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in WESTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in EASTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in WESTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in NORTHERN WARREN, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in NORTHERN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in WESTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in MONTGOMERY, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in EASTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Winter Storm in SCHOHARIE, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in NORTHERN FULTON, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in NORTHERN HERKIMER, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in WESTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN HERKIMER, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in SOUTHEAST WARREN, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in WESTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in NORTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in WESTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in EASTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 06-DEC-03 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-03 07:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER