New York City is on track to break a 50-year record for most consecutive days without snow – and the white stuff won’t fall in the coming weeks.
New York typically sees its first measurable snowfall on December 11, but according to forecasters, the total number of days the Big Apple has been snow-free is a staggering 307 days.
So far this season, New York City has had less than an inch of snow. The last measurable snow — at least 0.1 inches — was March 9, 2022, when New York City saw 0.4 inches of snow, records show. This is the fourth-longest snow-free streak the city has ever seen, Fox Weather reported.
The National Weather Service New York commented on what’s happening with the weather in a tweet posted on January 7, 2023.
“So far this winter we haven’t seen much snowfall in the area and this is below normal and quite a bit less compared to the same time last year. Central Park, NY and Kennedy, NY have had only traces of snow so far this winter season.
The city appears to be more than two weeks behind. Last year, on Dec. 23, 2022, Central Park recorded its first measurable snowfall — although it was just 0.2 inches, experts say.
A chart showing New York City’s Snowless Streaks from 1972 to the present
A snow-free aerial view of Manhattan this week with no fluffy white powder on the ground as New York City is on track to break a 50-year record for most consecutive days without snow
An aerial view of Manhattan as seen from Summit One Vanderbilt during a snow storm on January 29, 2022 in New York City
The longest snow drought was from March 14, 1972 to January 29, 1973 with 322 days, followed by March 15, 1999 to January 20, 2000 with 312 snowless days.
From March 14, 1997 to January 18, 1998 there were 311 snow-free days, followed by the last number – March 9, 2022 with 307 days – and finally from March 18, 1994 to January 11, 1995 with a snow-free streak of 300 days.
Traces of snow were recorded but often mixed with rain, according to Central Park, New York’s official climate reporting station.
The last time New York saw snow this late dates back to 1973, when 322 consecutive snow-free days were recorded. Based on the snow-free conditions and forecasts for the future, it appears that New York City could beat the record this year.
Although AccuWeather reports that New Yorkers can expect 18 to 23 inches of snow this season, which is below the normal 29.8 inches, the upcoming forecast looks bleak for those who enjoy skiing, sledding, or just building a snowman.
The most recent first measurable snow recorded was from 1870 to 2007
Storm Orlena, which hit January 29, 2021, was the last history-making snowstorm to hit New York with a whopping 13.3 inches of snowfall.
The National Weather Service reported a remarkable two inches of snow fell for over an hour throughout the day. Forecasters predicted total accumulations would be about two feet.
In January 2016, nearly seven years ago, snow was in abundance after a historic blizzard hit New York City with 27.3 inches of the fluffy white powder.
The last time Washington, DC saw snow was March 12, 2022, and the same goes for Philadelphia.
A chart featuring Season-to-Date Snowfall, showing viewers what’s actually happening with the weather versus what’s normal at this time of year
New Yorkers were hit by a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, when a powerful Nor’Easter brought blinding blizzards with strong winds. A state of emergency has been declared for New York City. The photo shows the snowy streets of the Upper West Side
Snowfall view from Dumbo in Brooklyn in New York City as a massive snow storm hits the east coast on January 29, 2022
The streets of New York City are blanketed in snow during the snowstorm of January 29, 2022
People walk along a frozen lake in New York’s Central Park on January 30, 2022, days after a blinding storm swept across New York, sparking power outages and transit delays