A deep upper level trough swept across the southern US and turned northeastward offshore of the east coast from the morning of January 3 through the morning of January 4, 2018. The interaction between the cold upper trough and the relatively warmer Atlantic waters resulted in tremendous intensification of a surface low pressure system that tracked from around Miami, FL to just offshore of Cape Cod on January 3 and 4. A good deal of moisture wrapped into this system and was lifted across much of the East Coast, resulting in a broad area of moderate to heavy snowfall. A heavy band of snow impacted portions of the Taconics from the late morning through the afternoon hours of January 4, resulting in snowfall rates up to 3 per hour and total snowfall amounts mainly in the 7 to 15 inch range. To the west of the heavy snowband across the Hudson, Mohawk, and Schoharie Valleys, a widespread 3 to 7 inches of snowfall occurred. Gusty northerly winds occurred with this system as well, with gusts of 30-45 mph recorded. The winds and falling snow contributed to reduced visibility and blowing and drifting of snow. The snowfall tapered off in the evening of January 4.
As the system pulled away, brutally cold Arctic air rushed southward into New York, resulting in an extended period of extremely cold conditions from January 5 through January 7. The coldest wind chills occurred during the mornings of January 6 and 7, when frigid air combined with westerly winds gusting to 30-40 mph resulted in widespread wind chills as low as 20 to 40 degrees below zero. High temperatures on January 6 were mainly in the single digits above and below zero. One confirmed fatality from hypothermia resulted from the stretch of cold weather as a 46-year old woman was found dead in front of her home in Glens Falls. Many warming shelters were opened across the state.

Winter Weather in WESTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in EASTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SOUTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SOUTHERN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SCHOHARIE, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Cold/Wind Chill in EASTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Cold/Wind Chill in WESTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in EASTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in EASTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in EASTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in EASTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in EASTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in EASTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in HAMILTON, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in MONTGOMERY, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN FULTON, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN HERKIMER, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN WARREN, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SCHOHARIE, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHERN FULTON, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHERN HERKIMER, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHERN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WESTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WESTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WESTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WESTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WESTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WESTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHEAST WARREN, NEW YORK
From 05-JAN-18 01:00:00 to 07-JAN-18 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Heavy Snow in EASTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in EASTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in EASTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 04-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter