The area can be affected by severe nor'easters during winter, with high winds and snowfall totals.

However, several factors could combine to produce somewhat impressive snowfall totals (6 inches/15 cm or more).

The lake-effect snow can add substantially to the overall snowfall total.

At the nearby ski area that winter, the official snowfall total on top of Mount Werner had been 361 inches.

"It could be that the snowfall total came from two separate events," Mr. Rozbicki said.

Lake effect snow during cold snaps in early spring also helps to raise snowfall totals.

The greatest seasonal snowfall total on record was 98.5" in Damascus during the 2009-2010 season.

The storm overall brought 16.5 inches to Albuquerque, helping the city achieve its second-highest monthly snowfall total on record.

The average annual snowfall total for Minot is 46.1 inches.

The public is allowed to report anything from current conditions to snowfall totals.