I was a little too young in the mid-80s to remember, but there must have been some pretty big gradient systems in 86-87? Rutgers had 47.4" that winter and NYC only 23.1. Rutgers also had 30"+ 1981/82, 82/83 and 83/84. I guess living right near RU as a kid, my perception of 80s winters isn't that terrible.