Waking up and looking out the window is one thing, but knowing exactly how much powder just dumped on your driveway is another. It’s kind of wild how one zip code can look like a winter wonderland while the town three miles over just has some sad, slushy puddles. If you’re trying to track snow accumulation last 24 hours by zip code, you’ve probably realized that generic weather apps are often... well, optimistic at best and flat-out wrong at worst.
Honestly, the "official" numbers you see on the news usually come from a single sensor at a local airport. If you live in a valley or up on a ridge, that airport number means basically nothing to you.
Why Zip Code Data is So Hit or Miss
Weather is local. Really local. Microclimates are the reason your neighbor might have six inches of snow while you're barely seeing a dusting. When we talk about snow accumulation last 24 hours by zip code, we are looking at a mix of radar estimates, "ground truth" reports from trained spotters, and automated sensors.
Just today, January 15, 2026, we’ve seen some massive spreads. In Western New York, for instance, Buffalo (specifically North Buffalo Airport) clocked in around 3.9 inches. But if you head just a bit south to Boston, NY (Zip 14025), reports hit a staggering 8.5 inches. That is a massive difference for a twenty-minute drive.
The Heavy Hitters in the Last 24 Hours
If you’re in the Great Lakes region or the Northeast right now, you’re likely digging out. Based on the latest National Weather Service (NWS) and CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network) data, here is where the most significant action happened over the last day.
South Bend, Indiana, has been getting absolutely hammered. One station there reported 12.6 inches in a 24-hour window ending early this morning. That’s enough to shut down most side streets. Detroit Metro (48242) saw a solid 4 inches, while Marquette up in the Upper Peninsula (49855) is consistently stacking up 3 to 5-inch increments every few hours.
In New York, the zip codes around Lockport and Sanborn (14094, 14132) are seeing over 6 inches. Meanwhile, the Finger Lakes region is dealing with a "dry slot," which is basically a weather-induced prank where the heavy snow just... stops. If you're in Ithaca or Cortland, you might have seen way less than the forecast promised. It's frustrating, but that’s meteorology for you.
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How to Find Your Exact Total
Don't just Google "weather." If you want the real-deal snow accumulation last 24 hours by zip code, you need to go where the pros go.
National Weather Service (NWS) Snowfall Analysis
The NWS has an interactive map that is actually pretty decent. You can toggle the "24-hour" filter and hover over your specific area. It uses a 1-km resolution, so it’s fairly granular.
CoCoRaHS
This is a secret weapon for weather nerds. It’s a network of thousands of volunteers who manually measure precipitation in their backyards. Because these are humans with actual rulers and not just computer models, the data is often the most accurate "ground truth" available. You can search their map by county or zip to see what a neighbor actually measured.
NOAA’s National Snow Analyses (NOHRSC)
This is the heavy-duty stuff. It combines satellite, airborne, and ground observations. If you need to know the snow water equivalent (basically how heavy/wet the snow is), this is your spot. Today's data shows about 20.2% of the U.S. is currently covered in snow.
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The Accuracy Problem
It’s important to remember that snow depth and snow accumulation aren't the same thing.
Snow depth is how much is currently on the ground. Accumulation is how much fell in a specific window. If it's been 30 degrees and sunny, two inches of new snow might fall, but if the ground is warm, it melts on contact. Your "accumulation" was two inches, but your "depth" is zero.
Wind is the other big liar. If you have a 20 mph wind, the snow isn't going to sit neatly on a flat board. It’s going to drift. You might have a bare patch of grass next to a three-foot drift. To get a real measurement, experts suggest taking the average of three different spots in your yard that aren't right next to your house or a fence.
Real-World Examples from January 15, 2026
Look at the disparity in these recent reports:
- South Bend, IN: 12.6 inches (Heavy lake effect)
- Warsaw, NY: 6.7 inches
- Fredonia, NY: 5.7 inches
- Marquette, MI: 3.5 inches
- Wellsville, NY: 0.5 inches (Just a dusting)
That spread is why checking snow accumulation last 24 hours by zip code is so much more useful than looking at a state-wide average.
What to Do With This Data
If you're an armchair meteorologist, it's just fun to track. But if you're a contractor, a property manager, or someone trying to file an insurance claim for a collapsed roof, this data is vital.
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For the average person, it’s mostly about safety. If your zip code just took on 8+ inches, the weight on your roof or the state of the local roads is a real concern.
To get the most accurate, hyper-local update for your driveway right now:
- Go to the NWS Snowfall Small Scale map.
- Input your specific zip code in the search bar.
- Check the "Interpolated" vs "Observed" toggle. Observed reports are real measurements; interpolated is a "best guess" by a computer.
- Look at the timestamp—most reports are finalized at 7:00 AM local time, so if you're checking in the evening, the "last 24 hours" might actually be missing the most recent afternoon squalls.
Check your local "Public Information Statement" (PNS) from the nearest NWS office. They list the top totals by town and zip code every few hours during a storm. It’s the fastest way to see if you’re living in the "winner" zone of the most recent snow dump.