New York City is expected to see the first snow flakes of the year Saturday and Sunday, putting a nearly two-year snowless streak in serious jeopardy.
But don’t expect very much of the white stuff, or for it to stick for long. The National Weather Service predicts most of the city will see anywhere from 1 to 4 inches of wet snow. Higher snowfalls are expected in the northern areas.
At the peak, snowfall rates of between a half and one inch are expected between 5 and 10 p.m. Jan. 6, before changing over to rain.
Temperatures aren’t cold enough for the snow to be a hindrance; expect the low to mid 30s for much of the day Saturday. It will be blustery as well; sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph are expected, with some areas to the east seeing gusts of 35 to 45 mph.
At this time, the National Weather Service has not issued any official winter storm warnings or advisories for the New York City area. But the impending wintry mix will make for hazardous travel conditions Saturday night and possibly into Sunday afternoon, according to forecasts.
The Sanitation Department has issued a snow alert for Saturday afternoon, mobilizing its fleet of more than 700 salt spreaders across the five boroughs to keep the roads clear in anticipation of any snow or ice. If more than two inches of snow falls on the city, the department will dispatch more than 2,000 garbage trucks that will be fitted with plows — but the agency says initial forecasts indicate that scenario is unlikely this weekend.
The storm will also not impact trash collection at this time, the Sanitation Department noted.
The city’s Emergency Management department has also “conducted coordinations calls and briefings” and launched its watch command to provide surveillance and rapid response.
Ahead of the storm, the MTA is preparing its fleet to handle the wintry weather. Should conditions deteriorate, it may move some of its fleet underground on lines that run above the surface. Extra buses and personnel are also on standby in case there are any service disruptions.
The greater concern is for Metro-North Railroad due to forecasts of heavier snow totals in the northern suburbs. The MTA says Metro-North’s “snow-fighting equipment is winterized, tested, and strategically positioned at facilities around the system.” That includes heated circuits and switches to prevent sticking.
Stay up-to-date with any weather-related service changes at mta.info.
Breaking a long snow drought?
It has been a very, very long time since New York City has seen any significant or even measurable snowfall.
The last time Central Park reported a snowfall of at least one inch was back on Feb. 13, 2022, when 1.6 inches of the white stuff fell. The ongoing snow drought is the longest since Central Park began keeping weather records in 1868.
With intermittent storms that left trace amounts of snow, the National Weather Service recorded just 2.3 inches of snowfall in the winter of 2022-23 — the lowest on record. It was also one of the warmest winters on record; January 2023 saw above-average temperatures every day of the month, another first for the city.
Nevertheless, AccuWeather believes New York is in for a far snowier winter this year, thanks to changing weather patterns from the re-emergence of El Niño in the Pacific, where waters are warmer than average.
This story was updated on Jan. 6 at 9:30 a.m.
