The AXA Towers (Formerly MONY Tower and Carrier Tower) in Downtown Syracuse are arguably the most notable feature of the skyline. AXA acquired MONY in 2004. Affixed at the top of Tower I is the famous weather beacon. This beacon is the same style as the former Mutual of New York (MONY) Building. The NYC beacon is currently non-functioning making the Syracuse AXA Tower I weather beacon the only active beacon in New York (and one of only about 35 active in the United States). The weather star inspired the 1968 song “Mony Mony” by Tommy James and the Shondells.
How to read the forecast from the Syracuse weather beacon
The lights on the tower depict a rising/falling temperature.
As for the star on top, there is a rhyme to understand the colors:
Green light– weather bright,
Orange on high– overcast sky,
Orange flashing– raindrops splashing,
Flickering white– snow in sight.Watch the lights on the tower perform;
they run down for cold, and up for warm.
