Posted for "F. Barry Knotts" <bknotts@buckeye-express.com>:

Matt...it's good to get some icing experience.  I'm in Toledo, Ohio and
the icing potential is probably not all that different in upstate NY.
Sounds like you had a good escape plan with warm air (above freezing)
below you.  Getting information about current conditions is really helpful and I've
found a couple of websites that give a wealth of information.  Not just
where icing might be, but altitude slices where it's likely (and not)
and pireps.  The forecasts are not perfect, but worth watching closely,
'cause they're often very close and the best we have.  This time of year
I study forecast surface temperatures to decide if there's a way out
down low (just remember the minimum safe enroute altitudes).  I check
the ATIS's of airports that I'm flying over to confirm forecast surface
temperatures. It's a real ace in the hole if temps are warm below you.
With below freezing temps on the ground and lots of potential for clouds
and icing where I'm flying, I usually sit and wait.  You may find
situations where there is a large, regional sigmet for icing where
you're headed, but no clouds in the vicinity of your route.  You can
often use that as a corridor of low potential icing for your flight.
 
I fly a fully deiced aircraft...but that equipment is used only when my
planning, that's designed to completely avoid icing doesn't work out.
And then, only until I can find different conditions.  ATC can often
help.  You need to ask.
 
Here're my favorite websites for icing information:
 
http://aviationweather.gov/exp/cip/
 
http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov/
 
Good luck! visiting NY.
 
Barry Knotts
LIV-P, building..building...building