It is Sunday, January 18, 2026. If you're standing on 5th Avenue or looking out a window in Queens right now, you aren't seeing a blizzard. Is it snowing in NYC now? The short answer is no. As of this morning, the sky over the five boroughs is mostly clear, though it’s definitely biting outside. We're looking at temperatures hovering in the low 30s, but the moisture just isn't there. New Yorkers are used to this—the tease of a gray sky that leads to nothing but a dry, cold wind.
Checking the National Weather Service (NWS) feed for New York, NY, the current humidity is sitting around 45%, which is far too dry for any significant precipitation to fall, even if a stray cloud wandered over Central Park.
The NYC Snow Drought and the "New Normal"
People keep asking "where is the snow?" because the last few years have been weird. Really weird. We used to rely on the "January Thaw," but lately, it feels like we’re just waiting for a "January Freeze" that never quite arrives with the white stuff. According to data from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, New York City’s winter profile has been shifting toward more frequent rain events rather than the classic accumulating snow we saw in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Remember the 2023-2024 season? It was a disaster for kids hoping for a snow day. Central Park barely recorded any accumulation for months. This year, 2026, has been slightly more active, but today specifically, the radar is bone dry.
Meteorologists like Jeff Berardelli have often pointed out that the "rain-snow line" has migrated further north. What used to be a foot of powder in Midtown is now a slushy mess in the Bronx and a total washout in Battery Park. It’s annoying. It makes the cold feel pointless. If it’s going to be 30 degrees, the least the universe could do is give us some decent lighting for Instagram, right?
Why the radar is empty today
The atmospheric setup over the Northeast right now is dominated by a high-pressure system sliding in from the Great Lakes. High pressure usually means "sinker" air. Air sinks, it warms slightly, and it suppresses cloud formation. Basically, it’s a giant invisible hand pushing down on the atmosphere, preventing any snow from developing.
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- Current Temp: 32°F
- Wind Chill: 24°F
- Chance of Snow: <5%
If you were hoping to go sledding at Pilgrim Hill in Central Park today, you’re out of luck. The grass is crunchy and frozen, but it’s still very much green (or that depressing winter brown).
When will it actually snow in NYC?
Looking at the extended GFS (Global Forecast System) and European (ECMWF) models, there is a pulse of energy coming off the Rockies that might—might—get interesting by the middle of next week. But don't go buying a new shovel just yet. These models are notoriously finicky when it's more than three days out.
One thing most people get wrong about NYC snow is thinking it's all about the temperature. It isn't. We've had days where it was 25 degrees and sunny. We need the "Nor'easter" setup: a low-pressure system sucking up moisture from the Atlantic and slamming it into cold air trapped against the Appalachian Mountains. Today, that moisture is non-existent.
The Urban Heat Island Effect
NYC has a "heat island" problem. All that concrete, the millions of people, and the subway vents pumping out hot air make the city a few degrees warmer than Westchester or New Jersey.
Often, you'll see it snowing in NYC now if you're looking at a map, but when you walk outside, it’s just cold rain. The city literally melts the snow before it hits the ground. This is why Central Park's official weather station often records less snow than Newark or Islip. It’s frustrating for snow lovers but great for people who hate slushy street corners.
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How to track NYC snow like a pro
Stop looking at the generic weather app on your phone. It’s usually wrong or delayed. If you really want to know what’s happening, you need to look at the "Short-Range Ensemble Forecast" or follow the NWS New York social media accounts. They post the "probabilistic snowfall" maps that show the best-case and worst-case scenarios.
Most New Yorkers just look at the sky. If it looks like a "leaden" gray—that heavy, thick color—moisture is building. Today? It’s a bright, crisp blue. Beautiful, but definitely not snow weather.
Safety and Prep for the next real storm
When the snow finally does come, the city changes. Fast. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is actually pretty incredible at their job. They have over 700 salt spreaders and 2,000+ plows ready to go.
- Check your pipes. If it stays this cold without snow cover, the ground freezes deeper, which can lead to burst pipes in older brownstones.
- Watch the alternate side parking. The city loves to suspend it during snow, but they'll give you a ticket the second the sun comes out.
- The "Salt Slush" trap. NYC salt is aggressive. It will ruin your leather boots in one walk to the bodega. Clean them immediately.
There's a specific kind of quiet that hits NYC when it snows. The sirens sound muffled. The yellow cabs slow down. It’s the only time the city feels peaceful. We aren't getting that today. Today is just a standard, cold, windy January Sunday.
Real-time resources for New Yorkers
Since the weather changes in a New York minute, stay updated with these specific sources. Don't trust a guy on TikTok unless he's showing a live radar loop.
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- NY1 Weather: Still the gold standard for borough-specific updates.
- Notify NYC: Sign up for the texts. They will tell you about snow emergencies before they happen.
- The OKX Radar: This is the National Weather Service radar located on Upton, NY. It covers the city perfectly. If you see blue or dark green blobs moving toward Manhattan from the southwest, grab your coat.
The reality of 2026 is that our winters are becoming more condensed. We get three weeks of "real" winter squeezed into late January and February, and the rest is just a long, chilly autumn.
Actionable Next Steps for Today
Since it isn't snowing, take advantage of the clear roads. If you're a photographer, the "golden hour" in the city during these dry, cold days is spectacular because the air is so clear of humidity.
Check your heating system now. If it’s 32 degrees today and your radiators are clicking but not heating, get a plumber before the actual storm hits next week. The city's 311 system gets overwhelmed the moment the first flake falls, so reporting heat issues today is much smarter than waiting.
Keep an eye on the Tuesday night forecast. The "clash of air masses" meteorologists love to talk about is starting to take shape over the Ohio Valley. It might stay north of us, or it might finally give us the 2026 "Big One" we've been waiting for. But for right now, put the shovel back in the closet and enjoy a clear, cold day in the greatest city on earth.