what you should Know
- Monday is a record day for New York City as it is the longest time without measurable winter snowfall in Central Park (the previous record was January 29, set in 1973).
- Snow remains out of the forecast, but freezing temperatures will start overnight and temperatures will stay in the 30s and keep us there until Wednesday, but the respite won’t last long.
- On Friday the high peaks for only one day and then falls…and falls, and falls. Expect single-digit downpours in New York City on Saturday, with dangerous sub-zero wind chills throughout the metro area; The temperature has improved on Sunday.
NEW YORK — This winter has been tough for snow lovers thanks to the lack of that white blanket over New York City.
For the first time since record-keeping began in 1869, the winter season in Central Park did not see measurable snow until January 30. According to National Weather Service records, the last measurable date prior to this date with measurable snowfall in New York City was January 29, which occurred during the winter of 1972–73.
In a winter that has seen parts of the country hit by historic snow storms, the Big Apple has been remarkably snow-free, including other areas of New York State. Striped may be too mild a word, considering that New Yorkers haven’t seen any measurable snow so far, and there are only a few days left to go until early February.
New Yorkers enjoy much of the high temperatures this season.
So will we see snow in New York City? Well, there’s no sign of measurable snow potential for the city in the immediate forecast, so our next records to watch include:
- Longest snow-free streak in history: As of Monday, we’re six days away from assuming the No. 1 spot. If we get 333 days without measurable snow in New York City, that’s the longest such streak in history, and it could go well beyond that. ,
- Warmest January on record: As of Sunday, we have the second warmest January on record. We’re only three tenths of a degree away from a tie, so we’ll see what happens over the next couple of days.
Snow remains outside the 10-day forecast, but a cold night kicks in, bringing us temperatures in the low 30s by Wednesday. Friday’s highs peak all day after midnight, then drop… and drop, and drop. A low of at least single digits is expected in the city on Saturday with dangerous sub-zero wind chill across the region.
Thankfully the rise in temperatures is short-lived, with temperatures expected to climb into the upper 40s on Sunday and stay there through at least the first half of next week.
First Central Park Snow Average
Yes, we’ve technically seen snowflakes in Central Park this season, but small amounts of snow mixed with rain don’t count for weather data logging purposes.
Last winter, Central Park recorded its first measurable snowfall on December 23, though it was only 0.2 inches (so, you see, “track” amounts to nothing). The city has had its first above-average snowfall on December 7, so we’re already a month behind average.
Yes, we have technically seen snowflakes this season, but small amounts of snow mixed with rain are not counted for weather data recording purposes. (It’s not us, it’s the National Weather Service.)
