Tag Archives: snow

Snow and Another Blast of Arctic Air

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Heavy snow is forecast to blanket the east coast from Virginia to Maine later today.  As the storm passes, temperatures are expected to plummet.

A weakened polar vortex has allowed frigid arctic air to push southward for the second time this month. Temperatures are likely to drop below freezing as far south as northern Florida. The core of the cold, however, will be centered in the mid-west and northeast.  Here in NYC, daily high temperatures are forecast to be 15°F to 20°F below average for the remainder of the week.

While conditions are not expected to be as brutal as they were during the last arctic outbreak, the frigid weather will linger this time.  Today’s snow will likely stick around for awhile.

First Major Winter Storm of 2014

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The first major winter storm of 2014 blasted a large area of the U.S. overnight. Packing heavy snow, high winds, and bitterly cold air, it impacted nearly twenty states from the Mid-West to New England.

Locally, the storm brought New York City 6.4 inches of powdery snow.  On average, the city usually receives 7 inches for the entire month of January. The storm also sent temperatures plummeting.  The high reading in the Central Park today was only 18°F.  Tonight, the temperature is expected to drop to a frigid 5°F.  When you factor in the wind chill, it will feel like -10°F.  Our normal high for this time of year is 39°F and our normal low is 28°F.

Bow Bridge

Central Park’s Bow Bridge in the snow.  Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Winter 2014

View of midtown Manhattan’s skyline from snow-covered Central Park.                                      Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

 

NYC 2013: The Year in Review

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New York City experienced some noteworthy weather in 2013. We bounced between the extremes of our coldest March in seventeen years and a July with extended heat waves.  In fact, we had 17 days this summer with readings at or above 90°F, which is two above normal.  Despite these superlatives, the city’s average temperature for the year was 55.34°F. That is only 0.5°F above our long-term norm.

Precipitation in the Big Apple this year was erratic. We fluctuated between our second wettest June on record and our third driest October. In the end, though, we were mostly dry. The city received a total of 46.32 inches of rain for the entire year.  That is 3.62 inches below normal.  Snowfall, however, was abundant.  February brought the city a blizzard that dumped 11.4 inches of snow in Central Park.  March and December also delivered above average snow totals.  For the year as a whole, the city accumulated 29.6 inches, which is 4.5 inches above average.

On the storm front, the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane season left NYC unscathed. This was a welcome relief after being hit by major storms two years in a row – Irene in 2011 and Sandy in 2012.

Moving into 2014, we are off to an active start. A winter storm warning is currently in effect for the city as a nor’easter makes its way up the coast.

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

NYC Monthly Summary: December 2013

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New York City experienced a wide array of temperatures this December.  We had highs that ranged from a chilly 30°F to a record warm 71°F.  These extremes balanced each other out in the end, though.  The city’s mean temperature for the month was 38.6°F, which is only 0.65°F above average.

On the precipitation side of things, NYC collected 4.85 inches of rain, which is 0.85 inches above normal.  This was the first time since June that we received above average rainfall. In terms of snow, the city saw 8.6 inches accumulate in Central Park, which is 3.8 inches above average for December.  Most of this fell during a widespread pre-season winter storm in the middle of the month.

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

The Chances for a White Christmas

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The holidays are here and many people are dreaming of a white Christmas.  The likelihood of seeing those dreams come true, however, are largely dependent on where you live.

According to NOAA, a white Christmas is defined as having at least one inch of snow on the ground on December 25th.  In the US, the climatological probability of having snow for Christmas is greatest across the northern tier of the country. Moving south, average temperatures increase and the chance of snow steadily decreases.

Here in New York City, the odds of having snow on Christmas Day are, on average, less than twenty-five percent. This low probability is largely due to the city’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its moderating influence. This year, despite some significant snowfall earlier in the month and the possibility of a light snow shower tonight, NYC is not expecting a white Christmas.

Snow or no snow, the Weather Gamut wishes you a very Happy Holiday!

Image Credit: NOAA

Image Credit: NOAA

Heavy Snow Blankets NYC

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A massive winter storm stretched across the U.S. from Missouri to Maine this weekend.  In New York City, it brought us our first significant snowfall of the season.

According to the NWS, Central Park had 5 inches of accumulation.  That brings our snow total for the month up to 6.5 inches.  On average, the city usually receives 4.8 inches of snow for the entire month of December.

While we are just half way through the month, these numbers mark a substantial departure from last December’s total of only 0.4 inches of snow.

A Winter Preview for NYC

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It’s beginning to look a lot like winter in New York City.  Cold temperatures and snow have been dominating the weather for days.

On Sunday, 0.7 inches of snow dusted Central Park – the first measurable snowfall of the season. Yesterday, a second weather system brought the Big Apple a wintery mix that included 1.4 inches of snow. While this modest accumulation is nothing to write home about, it did set a new daily snowfall record for the date.  According to the NWS, the previous record of 1.3 inches was set in 1932.

The arctic air ushered in by this second system is expected to stick around for a while.  Temperatures are not likely to climb out of the 30s until early next week and more snow is possible over the weekend.

Winter officially begins on the solstice, December 21st.

First Taste of Winter in NYC

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New York City is experienceing its first taste of winter this week.

A deep dip in the jet stream has ushered in cold arctic air and brought the city its first freeze of the season.  Overnight, temperatures dipped down to 29°F.  That is 13°F below average for this time of year.

The chilly air also produced the Big Apple’s first snow of the season.  Flakes filled the air early Tuesday, but nothing measurable accumulated on the ground. It is interesting to note, nonetheless, that this was the latest arrival of the city’s first snow since 2009.

This winter preview, according to the local forecast, will not last long.  Temperatures are expected to rebound to more seasonable levels by the weekend.

Normal High is 55°F

Normal High is 55°F

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Weather History: NYC October Snowfall

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October is not a month known for snow in New York City.  That said, it is not unheard of.

On this date back in 1979, snowflakes filled the air in the Big Apple.  Nothing accumulated, but it marked the earliest trace of snow on record for NYC.  According to the NWS, measurable snow, defined as 0.1 inches or more, has been recorded four times during the month of October.  The earliest occurred on October 15, 1876 when 0.5 inches was noted in Central Park.  The record for accumulation is 2.9 inches, which came down during the snowstorm of October 29, 2011.

While there is no snow currently in the forecast, the first nor’easter of the season is working its way up the coast. It is expected to bring the city rain, wind, and overall grey conditions during the next few days.

A Week of Wild Weather Across the U.S.

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Extreme weather battered much of the United States this past week.  From heavy snow and tornadoes in the plains to a tropical storm in the Gulf and blustery Santa Ana winds in California, this country saw it all in just six days.

Starting on Tuesday, a pre-season winter storm dumped massive amounts of snow across Wyoming and South Dakota. Some places, like Deadwood, SD received as much as 48 inches.

On Wednesday, the NWS named Tropical Storm Karen. Moving north across the Gulf of Mexico, it threatened coastal communities from Louisiana to Florida with heavy rain and storm surge flooding.  Luckily, however, the storm was downgraded to a rainstorm by the time it came ashore.

By Friday, the cold air that produced the blizzard in the northern plains collided with warm moist air to the east and unleashed severe thunderstorms across the region.  They, in turn, spawned numerous tornadoes.  One of the hardest hit areas was Wayne, NE where an EF-4 twister with winds measured up to 170-mph tore through the town.  While widespread property damage and numerous injuries were reported, there were no fatalities.

Over the weekend, powerful Santa Ana winds blasted southern California with gusts reaching 90-mph in some areas.  These warm, dry winds helped fuel a large wildfire in San Diego County.

While extreme weather events are not unusual in this country, having such a large number and wide variety happen more-or-less at once is very rare.