Capital Region gets a white Christmas

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Amy Garfalo, 5, shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of her home in Schenectady on Christmas.

Snow blanketed the Capital Region on Christmas morning and the steadiest snowfall is behind us, according to the National Weather Service.

The highest snow accumulations fell in Saratoga County, meteorologist Dan Thompson said.

“We’ve been getting reports in the 7- to 8-inch range in Saratoga County,” he said. “Boght Corners in Albany County reported 5.7 inches and Schenectady County is reporting around 5 inches.”

Thompson said snow began to fall about 10 p.m. Christmas Eve. He added that while there could be a few scattered snow showers throughout the day today, there would be minimal additional accumulation.

“This is the biggest snowfall so far on average,” he said. “On Dec. 9, we had 2 to 5 inches in the Capital District, so this will be a little more than that.”

Thompson added that 45 percent of Christmases are considered white Christmases, meaning at least 1 inch of snow fell on Christmas morning.

Albany International Airport spokesman Doug Myers said although 6 inches of snow fell at the airport overnight into Christmas morning, there are minimal flight delays and cancellations.

As of 10 a.m., Myers said there were a couple of cancellations by Cape Air headed to Boston and Ogdensburg.

“Other than that, everything is operating on time,” he said.

Myers said staff at Albany airport worked before the snow began and will be working in 12-hour shifts for at least two days to clear the airport of all snow.

“It could be a two- or three-day operation to get all of the snow off,” he said. “The goal is to keep the airport open so everyone can get to someplace warmer.”