And when a winter storm leaves almost two feet of snow here and there, the most important news is not the snow-flakes where they fell. Early snowfall reports indicated a large area of deep snow across the Southwest and extending the Northeast with outstanding amounts in mountain topography as well as in some North East corridors where the snow bands were parked throughout the hours.
These places and the measurements help readers of what exactly constituted a lot on the ground, the extremes of the storm, plus the daily realities that burst immediately thereafter, including the reduced roadways and the inconveniences of travel as well as the caution of the cold.
1. Bonito Lake, New Mexico: 31 inches
The largest initial sum reported in the country was in 31 inches which occurred in Bonito Lake, a lofty spot in the south-central portion of New Mexico. What the reading emphasized is the fact that even on the western side of the storm, the deep, shovel-breaking snow could be coming, with the terrain forcing out the moisture in the air.
2. Crested Butte, Colorado: 23 inches
Crested Butte, a coal mining town that has been transformed into a ski resort recorded 23 inches during the 24 to 26-day period in January. Although Colorado is used to the winter weather, a cumulative such as that would soon alter habits and even more so when it is at a low enough temperature that the snow does not settle out or melt between rounds.
3. New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: 23 inches
Western Pennsylvania in the East had one of the headline figures of the storm, 23 inches in New Bethlehem, some one hour north of Pittsburgh. Several neighbouring neighbourhoods also landed within the 20-inch territory, forming the well known post-storm squeeze of the tall banks, intersecting close to 90 degree and reducing the velocity of local travel despite the plows that have travelled over it.
4. Catskills and Hudson Valley fringes, New York: 22 inches
Societies along the Hudson River around the Catskills also made it to the top. The first reports gave 22 inches in such places as Fairview (near Poughkeepsie), West Shokan and Haines Falls. To most families such sums cause them to lose sight of having to go to work and instead get down to the reality of clearing steps, hydrants and driveways until the next frosty night sets all in stone.
5. Sterling, Massachusetts: 22.2 inches
Massachusetts had a few heavy pockets, 22.2 inches in Worcester County, in Sterling, and in charge. During a statewide storm update, Gov. Maura Healey said, Conditions in traveling are still not good, so be mindful on the roads as clean-up efforts continue and the transportation authorities explained a prolonged effort to widen roads and deal with refreezing.
6. West Shokan, New York: 22 inches
In West Shokan, 22 inches was the best end of the statewide lists of summative. Figures in that category tend to be not really about the storm itself but about what happens afterward: filled-up curb cuts, a reduction of lanes and the slowing of the usual shopping.
7. Boston measurement points: 15 inches at the city, and more so in the area
Total difference was dramatically different with short distances within the same event. One city standard mentioned was 15 inches of Boston recorded late in the night of Jan. 25, and neighboring counties and suburbs registered greater levels. That spread depicted the way one neighborhood felt like it was being slowed down as another was digging out days-long.
The greatest totals of the storm were in geographical areas where the storm path coincided with geographical features, the mountains in the Southwest and Rockies, and an arc running Northeastern, including western Pennsylvania, the Catskills and the central Massachusetts.
Once totals are counted, the mop-up business begins: clearance of access, slow travel on smoothed-out roads, serious consideration of cold-weather hazards when wind chills and refreezing transform regular roads into hazards.
