A weekend snow storm is heading toward NYC, but how much snow will we get?
A massive snow storm is moving east toward New York and is forecast to dump inches of snow across the Northeast. But, with temperatures forecast to hover around freezing, it remains unclear if the winter storm will break the streak of 690 days since New York City last saw an inch of snow fall in a day.
Youngsters yearning to dust off their sleds, snowball fight instigators and cross-country skiers in the five boroughs may have to wait as this weekend may well be more slushy mess than winter wonderland.
Even so, the wintery mix could make travel through the region and the five boroughs difficult this weekend. Upstate New York and Connecticut are expecting heavier snowfall totals.
The city’s Department of Emergency Management issued a weather alert for Saturday into Sunday, citing “worst-case” snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches in the most northern parts of the city and 1 to 2 inches elsewhere across the city.
“With initial forecasts predicting a potentially significant storm hitting the tri-state area this weekend, our agencies are prepared to handle anything that’s thrown our way,” Mayor Adams said. “We’ll continue to keep New Yorkers updated about what to expect and our preparations for the storm.”
Meteorologists say the storm will be a mix of rain and snow and will likely hit late in the day Saturday and continue through Sunday.
New York City has gone nearly two years — 690 days — since Central Park measured an inch of snow, shattering decades-long records.
Snow should start to fall late in the afternoon on Saturday before turning into rain later in the evening, according to Bill Goodman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. As the storm starts to move out of the area on Sunday, that rain may turn back into snow.
The most southern parts of the five boroughs — Staten Island, Brooklyn and parts of Queens — are likely to just see a dusting of snow, no more than an inch. Most of Manhattan is projected to get around an inch of snow. In the northernmost parts of the Bronx and Manhattan, up to three inches of snow could fall.
There’s also a chance temperatures dip into the lower 30s, Goodman said. In that scenario, snowfall across the city will be heavier, with up to two inches falling in Manhattan and three or four inches falling in the Bronx.
“That’s something we’re going to keep our eye on and we probably won’t know for sure until we get closer to the event,” Goodman said.
More inland areas are forecast for heavier snowfall, anywhere from six to 10 inches of snow.
On Thursday, Governor Hochul asked New Yorkers to take precautions and told state agencies to prepare for the storm as they ready to deploy trucks and plows.
“We anticipate heavy, wet snowfall across various regions, potentially causing power outages and hazardous travel,” Hochul said in a statement. “I urge New Yorkers to be vigilant. Prepare your households, monitor local forecasts, and plan for the next couple of days as the forecast comes into clearer view.”
Putnam, Orange and Dutchess Counties are predicted to get from 6 to 8 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Harford, Conn. is expected to get somewhere between 4 to 6 inches. Passaic and Sussex Counties will see around 6 to 8 inches as well.
The storm’s exact path towards New York remains somewhat uncertain, so there’s no guarantees yet, with plenty of time left for the forecast to change.
Temperatures are trending warmer than average this winter due to a weather phenomenon known as El Niño that is associated with more heat in the atmosphere and warmer years on average.
New Yorkers should also keep an eye on the forecast for next week, when another storm is projected to hit, the National Weather Service warned.
