Long Island Snowfall Totals & Accumulation Averages

How Often it Snows on Long Island

This first table lists monthly and yearly totals for amount of snow and how many days it snows at least 0.1 inches (0.25 centimetres).

Average total snowfall and days with fresh snow in Long Island

Days		Inches	Centi­metres
3.8	January	10.3	26.2
3.7	February	9.4	23.9
2.7	March	6.5	16.5
0.3	April	0.6	1.5
0.3	November	0.5	1.3
2.6	December	4.5	11.4
13.4	Year	31.8	80.8

These averages don't show how much Long Island's snowfall varies from year to year.

In December, for instance, one in four years totals 6.7 inches or more of snow. Another 25 percent of years receive less than half an inch for the month.

Similarly in January, fresh snowfall in the heaviest years amounts to over 19.9 inches, while the lightest years get 2.4 inches or less.

Snow in February ranges from over 15.2 inches in heavy snowfall years to under 2.5 inches in light years.

When Long Island Has Its First & Last Snowfalls

Long Island's first snowfall of winter usually arrives in December, although at least one in five years see a little snow in November.

The season's last snowfall typically happens in March, but snow in April can happen.

Long Island is normally free of snow every year from May to October.

How Many Snowstorms Long Island Gets

While Long Island gets snow less often than most places in New York State, many snowfalls there are more than just a dusting. For eight days a year on average, the fresh snow on Long Island amounts to at least an inch.

Snowstorms of over five inches a day normally occur just a once or twice a year. And major blizzards that dump ten inches or more in one day are rare events that don't happen every year.

Number of days per month and year on average that Long Island has a total snowfall of at least 1, 3, 5 or 10 inches

1 inch 2.5 cm	3 inches 7.6 cm		5 inches 12.7 cm	10 inches 25.4 cm
2.2	1.2	January	0.5	0.2
2.1	1.1	February	0.5	0.2
1.7	1.0	March	0.4	0.0
0.2	0.1	April	0.0	0.0
0.2	0.1	November	0.0	0.0
1.5	0.5	December	0.2	0.1
7.9	4.0	Year	1.6	0.5

How Much Snow Normally Accumulates at Long Island

For a small portion of winter days, does Long Island have at least an inch of snow on the ground.

Typically on four days a year, the snow covering Long Island builds up to ten or more inches deep.

Average total days per month and year that Long Island has a snow depth of at least 1, 3, 5 or 10 inches on the ground

1 inch 2.5 cm	3 inches 7.6 cm		5 inches 12.7 cm	10 inches 25.4 cm
7.2	4.0	January	2.9	1.8
8.6	6.2	February	4.8	1.8
3.8	1.9	March	1.0	0.2
0.2	0.1	April	0.0	0.0
0.1	0.0	November	0.0	0.0
2.8	1.5	December	0.8	0.4
22.7	13.7	Year	9.5	4.2