Winter Holidays in New York City: Weather Extremes and Forecast
David Slate, Contributor
Spending the winter holiday in New York City can be a memorable and magical experience, but usually not for the weather alone, as travelers have experienced this week.
Tiny white and jewel-toned lights dot the avenues, and shop windows cry out for a glance with their intricate and spirited displays. Everywhere in the city are the signs and the spirit of the season. Bells ring, singers sing, and the air is just, well... so cold.
Your warmed heart can help comfort you in the chilly air though, or you can just blend in and wear a giant puffy coat. However you prevent the gusts of snow and chill this holiday season in NYC, you can't say you didn't know it was coming.
Despite predictions for a balmier winter this season, the Boxing Day blizzard greets us can with the usual icy states.
The the past, conditions have varied, some with temperatures occasionally dropping into the upper 20s in December and mid-20s in January. It has also risen into the low 40s during these months during some previous seasons.
Though these two festive months can be cold and wet, the month of February holds the record, dropping to 19.9 degrees in 1934. January comes in second, having its coldest month in 1918 at 21.7 degrees. December's coldest year was in 1876 at 24.9 degrees.
Cold winter temperatures in NYC can also bring snow. Tending to have conflicting emotions of love and hate toward the icy precipitation, the city's residents can usually count on its arrival at some point during the winter season.
December's snowiest month was in 1947 at 29.6 inches and comes in third place overall for snowiest months on record. January holds the spot of fifth snowiest month with a temperature of 27.4 degrees in 1925. February holds the record of the snowiest month with 36.9 inches in 2010. Sometimes it even snows on Christmas day, a treat for residents and visitors alike. The year 1902 holds the record at 6.5 inches, while more recently in 2002 the city received 5 inches of snow that day.
Occasionally the city will be hit with a monster snow storm, blanketing the city in up to a couple of feet of snow. While, at first, the sight is beholden to that of one of nature's finer moments it soon becomes a messy challenge.
Forming piles along streets that reach higher than many cars, the snow can also create huge icy puddles at every street corner making crosswalks a slushy obstacle course. February 2006 had the biggest storm on record, leaving 26.9 inches of snow during a two-day period. In second is the month of December with 26.4 inches of snow over a two-day period in 1947. January holds a spot in fifth place with 20.2 inches during two days in 1996.
Due to the short-term effects of Northern Atlantic Ocean and Arctic weather patterns, winter weather here can only be accurately predicted in advance of a week.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted the possibility of above-, near-, or below-normal temperatures and precipitation this year... a well-contrived verbalization of a big shoulder shrug.
Above-average snow is already well under way this winter season, obviously, though we'll only see this performance repeat itself if enough moisture and cold air are in place together at the same time. If you're not looking forward to any more of the white stuff then make sure to have a pair of handy galoshes, and perhaps a nice puffy coat.
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