You woke up, looked out the window, and saw that gray, heavy NYC sky. Kinda saw it coming, right? Honestly, there’s nothing quite like a Sunday in Brooklyn when the forecast starts whispering about the first real "accumulating" snow of the year.
The weather in Brooklyn today is basically a classic winter setup, but it’s a bit more complicated than just "it's snowing." If you were planning on a casual stroll through Prospect Park or hitting up a flea market, you've gotta deal with a Winter Weather Advisory that’s sticking around until midnight.
Right now, it’s 33°F. It’s that biting, damp cold that gets into your bones because the humidity is sitting at a massive 95%. It feels like the air is basically a sponge.
The Actual Hourly Breakdown (No Fluff)
Forget the generic "cloudy with a chance of snow" stuff. Here is what is actually happening. The National Weather Service and NYC Emergency Management are tracking two distinct "batches" of snow today.
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- The Morning Push: We’ve got light snow falling already. Because the ground isn't super frozen yet, a lot of it is melting on the streets, but sticking to the grass.
- The Midday Lull: Expect things to get a little lighter—maybe even a bit of rain mixing in—through the early afternoon.
- The Late Afternoon Surge: This is the one to watch. Between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., the snowfall rates are expected to pick up. We’re talking 0.5 to 1 inch per hour.
Basically, if you’re out at a brunch spot in Williamsburg or Carroll Gardens, you might want to wrap it up before that second wave hits. The total accumulation is looking like 1 to 3 inches for most of Brooklyn, though southeast spots (think Sheepshead Bay or Mill Basin) could potentially see up to 4 inches if the bands shift.
Why the Temperature is Deciding Everything
Here’s the thing: we are hovering right at the freezing mark. The high today is only 35°F. That’s a tiny margin.
If the temperature stays at 33°F or 34°F, we get that heavy, slushy "heart attack" snow. It’s wet. It’s messy. It’s what creates those legendary Brooklyn slush puddles at every crosswalk that look like they’re two inches deep but are actually gateways to the center of the earth.
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Tonight, the low drops to 24°F. That is when things get sketchy. All that slush and "light snow" from the afternoon is going to freeze solid. If you’re driving or even just walking the dog late tonight, watch out for black ice. The wind is coming from the north at about 7 mph, which isn't a gale, but it’s enough to make that 24°F feel a lot more like 15°F.
What This Means for Your Sunday Plans
Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026—the start of the MLK holiday weekend. A lot of people have tomorrow off, which is great, because the city has issued a Travel Advisory.
If you were planning on heading to the MLK Service Social at Crown Hill Theatre or the Brooklyn Children's Museum for their Day of Service events, they’re still on, but give yourself double the travel time. The G train and the Q are already temperamental on weekends; add a few inches of snow and ice-covered tracks, and you know the drill.
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Interestingly, the "Old Farmer’s Almanac" predicted this stretch of January would be the coldest and snowiest of the month. Looks like they actually nailed it for once.
Survival Tips for Brooklynites Today
- Salt Your Stoop Now: Don't wait until 10 p.m. when it's 24 degrees and frozen. Get the salt down while it's still slushy.
- The Shoe Choice: Today is not the day for those canvas sneakers. You need waterproof boots. Period. The humidity is so high (96% later today) that once your feet get wet, they are staying wet and cold.
- Alternate Side Parking: Check the latest NYC DOT updates. Usually, with a couple of inches, they might keep it in effect, but with a travel advisory, things change fast.
- Heating Rights: If you’re a renter and your landlord is being stingy, remember: since it’s below 55°F outside, your apartment MUST be at least 68°F during the day.
Looking Ahead to MLK Day
The good news? This system is fast. By tomorrow, Monday, January 19, the snow will be gone. The forecast is calling for sunny skies and a high of 35°F.
However, it’s going to be windy. We’re looking at west winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. So, while the "weather in Brooklyn today" is about snow and slush, tomorrow is going to be about that brutal wind chill.
Check your windows for drafts tonight. Seriously. If you’ve got those old Brooklyn brownstone windows, grab some painter's tape or a rolled-up towel. That 24°F low tonight is going to find every single crack in your apartment's insulation.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Clear your sidewalk before sunset. If you let that 3 p.m. slush sit until the 9 p.m. freeze, you’ll be hacking at solid ice with a shovel for three hours.
- Charge your devices and keep a flashlight handy. While we aren't expecting a massive blizzard, heavy wet snow on tree branches can sometimes cause localized power blips in neighborhoods with older overhead lines.
- Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly ones who might need help clearing their path before the deep freeze sets in tonight.