With an exceptionally strong high pressure system over New England, a low pressure system developed off the Mid Atlantic Coast.  Periods of light snow developed as northeast winds increased to around 15 mph across the NYC Metro area Sunday afternoon, February 16th.  Snow became widespread and heavy, falling at rates up to 2 to 3 inches per hour Sunday night and Monday, February 17th.  Heavy snow blown by northeast winds 20 to 30 mph caused near blizzard conditions throughout the area.  Record heavy snowfalls crippled mass transit.  These extremely hazardous weather conditions led to local emergency declarations throughout the region.  In New York City, the cost estimate for total snowfall operations was around 20 million dollars.  In addition, widespread moderate beach erosion and minor tidal flooding accompanied this system.Storm Total Snowfall ranged from around 14 to 28 inches.Here are selected specific snowfall amounts for:Orange County:  from 14.0 inches at Port Jervis to 28.0 inches at Tuxedo.Putnam County:  from 15.5 inches at West Mahopac to 20.0 inches at Carmel.Rockland County:  from 18.0 inches at Nyack to 24.3 inches at Sparkill.Westchester County:  from 14.5 inches at Croton On Hudson to 26.0 inches at Thornwood.New York City:  from 15.5 inches at Marine Park in Brooklyn to 25.6 inches at JFK Airport.  At the Central Park Zoo, 19.8 inches was measured.  At LaGuardia Airport, 16.5 inches was measured.Nassau County:  from 14.1 inches at Valley Stream to 23.5 inches at Farmingdale.Suffolk County:  from 14.0 inches at Islip and Manorville to 24.0 inches at Bohemia and Bridgehampton.  At the National Weather Service Office in Upton, 21.1 inches was measured.

Heavy Snow in BRONX, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 03:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in KINGS (BROOKLYN), NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in ROCKLAND, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHEAST SUFFOLK, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 18-FEB-03 00:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in RICHMOND (STATEN IS.), NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 01:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in PUTNAM, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHWEST SUFFOLK, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 05:00:00 to 18-FEB-03 01:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in NEW YORK (MANHATTAN), NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 20:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 20M
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in ORANGE, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 08:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST SUFFOLK, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 06:00:00 to 18-FEB-03 01:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in QUEENS, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in NORTHEAST SUFFOLK, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 07:00:00 to 18-FEB-03 00:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 07:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 04:00:00 to 17-FEB-03 21:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in NASSAU, NEW YORK
From 17-FEB-03 05:00:00 to 18-FEB-03 02:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.