January is usually the coldest month on the calendar for New York City, but this year it felt like a weather rollercoaster. We had highs that ranged from an unseasonably balmy 59°F to a frosty 27°F. In the end though, with 19 out of 31 days posting above average readings, the warmth won out. These multiple extended warm spells helped push the city’s mean temperature for the month up to 34.5°F, which is 1.9°F above normal.

On the precipitation side of things, snowfall was abundant. In all 27.2 inches was measured in Central Park this January. Most of this impressive total fell during a single storm – The Blizzard of 2016. This classic nor’easter moved up the coast during one the city’s cold snaps and brought us 26.8 inches of snow – the second largest snowfall total from a single storm on record. On average, the city normally sees 7 inches of snow during the month of January and 25.8 inches for the entire winter season.

Rainfall was also plentiful during the first month of the year. The city received 4.41 inches, which is 0.76 inches above normal. Again, most of this came down during a few heavy precipitation events, including January 10th when 1.8 inches was measured in Central Park setting a new daily rainfall record for the date. As a result of all this precipitation, the city is no longer listed in any category on the US drought monitor.

Temperatures in NYC this January felt like they were on a rollercoaster. Credit: The Weather Gamut