Facts from public sources, not quotes. Where these numbers come from
Syracuse snow comes in volume: 127.8 inches in an average season, much of it lake effect. Here's what the city, NOAA and the National Weather Service say about living with it.
Get a free quote How it worksThe Syracuse airport averages 127.8 inches of snow a season and about 34.1 days a year with an inch or more (NOAA, 1991–2020). The normal January high is 31.7°F and the low 16.5°F, so snow piles up instead of melting off between storms.
In a long lake-effect storm, clear the walk more than once instead of waiting for the end. The sidewalk is due by 6 p.m. the day after it falls (Sec. 24-3).
If snow or ice is frozen too hard to remove, the city says to cover it with salt or sand, then clean it off as soon as the weather allows.
Don't push or blow snow into the street gutter, a park or onto the sidewalk (Sec. 24-4). Pile it on your own property.
Syracuse has more than 5,000 hydrants. The Fire Department asks residents to keep a 3-foot circle clear around them.
Switch sides at 6 p.m. so plows can reach the curb. Cars on the wrong side can be ticketed or towed.
Before driving I-81 north in a lake-effect storm, check 511NY for closures. They change storm by storm.
Sources: NOAA NCEI, City of Syracuse, City of Syracuse Parking Violations Bureau, 511NY.
The National Weather Service says westerly winds across Lake Ontario bring heavy lake-effect snow along the I-81 corridor between Syracuse and Watertown. The bands are narrow, so conditions change fast over a few miles.
When a band sits over your street, one visit may not be enough. Ask your contractor how call-backs are handled and billed.
A wide pusher or a two-stage blower moves deep snow without lifting it. Take breaks and stay warm.
Rake heavy snow off the roof edge from the ground before ice dams form. Stay clear of power lines and never work from a ladder.
Source: National Weather Service.
| Where | Sidewalk deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| City of Syracuse | By 6 p.m. the day after the snow falls | City of Syracuse |
| Downtown special assessment district | Within 4 hours after the snow stops (not counting 8 p.m.–8 a.m. or Sundays); overnight snow by noon; Sunday snow by noon Monday | City of Syracuse |
Outside the city? Town and village rules in Salina, Clay, Cicero, Camillus, Manlius, DeWitt and Onondaga are not covered here yet. Check with your town or village.
Want help? See tools in the Ice Fighter shop, read the winter travel advisories, or let a crew do it.
