Over the recent holiday weekend, Sullivan County saw heavy snow, brought on by winter storm Harper. After accumulating nine inches of snow on Saturday and Sunday, Monday morning’s temperature in Long Eddy was a -4 degrees F. Winter has surely arrived.

But, this bit of winter weather pales in comparison to the historical weather in our area and across the state. We all can remember just two years ago on March 14, 2017 when Mother Nature dumped a year’s worth of snow in one day. The snow measured a whopping 30 inches in Damascus, PA.

The record snowfall for Sullivan County occurred on February 16, 1958 in Callicoon with 38 inches of snow. While that is more than enough to shovel, it was not even close to the official New York state record of 50 inches on January 31, 1966 in Camden, Oneida County, NY. (An unofficial snow of 54 inches was claimed to have fallen upstate on the Tug Hill Plateau in January 1976.) The New York state record for the deepest accumulation of snow was on the aptly named Whiteface Mountain on April 20, 1943, totaling 119 inches—just short of 10 feet of snow.

While our temperature turned frigid over the weekend, it comes nowhere close to the state record low of -52 degrees F set on two occasions: February 9, 1934 in Herkimer County, at the Stillwater Reservoir and on February 18, 1979 in Old Forge. 

The Basket Historical Society preserves and presents the history of the Upper Delaware River area. If you are interested in becoming a member or finding out more contact us at baskethistsociety@gmail.com.