A strong storm system moved off the mid-Atlantic coast during the early morning of Thursday, March 7th.  Although this storm system was far south of the region, it moved very slowly and help produced a strong easterly flow, which transported moisture off the Atlantic Ocean into the region.
As an upper level shortwave moved from the Great Lakes region towards the Northeast coast, it interacted with the moisture, allowing snowfall to develop over the area.  Initially, the snowfall was rather spotty in nature and temperatures just above freezing prevented much accumulation from occurring during the morning and afternoon hours of March 7th. However, a steadier, accumulating snow developed across the entire region by the evening hours as the shortwave moved just south of the region across Pennsylvania and New Jersey and temperatures began to cool.
Steady snowfall, moderate in intensity at times, occurred during the overnight hours and into the morning of Friday, March 8th, as the upper level shortwave became absorbed by the much larger storm off the coast.  Snowfall tapered off to snow showers around midday on Friday, March 8th.  By that point, storm total snowfall ranged greatly across the region.  While only a few inches fell across the Adirondacks and western Mohawk Valley, up to a foot and a half of snow fell across the Taconics and eastern Catskills.  The Greater Capital Region received 6 to 10 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow in EASTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 07:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in WESTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 13:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in EASTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 07:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 13:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 13:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SCHOHARIE, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 13:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SOUTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in NORTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in MONTGOMERY, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 16:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in NORTHERN FULTON, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 16:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SOUTHERN FULTON, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 16:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 07-MAR-13 07:00:00 to 08-MAR-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter