Honestly, if you're living in New York right now, you’ve probably learned to never trust a clear sky in January. This morning started out feeling like a weirdly mild fluke, with temperatures hovering around 43°F and a light southwest breeze at 8 mph. But don't let that fool you. The nyc weather hourly forecast is about to get incredibly messy as we move through Wednesday, January 14.
We are currently tracking a frontal boundary that is basically parking itself over the Five Boroughs. It’s a slow-motion collision between that lingering "warm" air and a developing low-pressure system coming up from the southeast.
What to Expect Hour-by-Hour
Most of the morning is just going to be gray. Overcast skies are the name of the game through about 11 AM. You might see a stray shower, but it’s mostly just "gloomy commute" vibes.
👉 See also: Sleeping With Your Neighbor: Why It Is More Complicated Than You Think
By midday, things start to shift. Between 11 AM and 1 PM, the overcast gets heavier. Those scattered showers will turn into a more steady rain. If you have a lunch meeting, bring the umbrella. This isn't just a drizzle; it’s the precursor to a much colder system.
The real drama happens in the late afternoon. Here’s the breakdown:
✨ Don't miss: At Home French Manicure: Why Yours Looks Cheap and How to Fix It
- 1 PM – 4 PM: Steady rain becomes widespread. Temperatures stay steady in the low 40s, but it’ll start feeling rawer as the humidity hits 62%.
- 4 PM – 6 PM: This is the danger zone. As the sun goes down, that low-pressure system starts pulling in Arctic air. You’ll see the rain begin to mix with sleet and snow.
- Sunset and Beyond: This is when the Winter Weather Advisory really kicks in. Rain will officially turn over to snow near or slightly after sunset.
The Midnight Changeover
If you’re out late tonight, be careful. The National Weather Service is forecasting that the rain will fully transition to snow by the evening. Temperatures are expected to plummet from a high of 50°F earlier in the day down toward a low of 37°F, and eventually into the 20s by Thursday morning.
Travel conditions are going to decline fast. The NYC DOT has already issued warnings about bridge closures and potential "rain dates" for maintenance being pushed back. Specifically, the bridge work on the 3rd Street Bridge over the Gowanus Canal could be a mess if this snow accumulates as expected.
🔗 Read more: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Menu: Why You’re Probably Ordering Wrong
Why the 5 PM Window Matters
Most New Yorkers will be heading home right as the "turn" happens. When you have rain hitting a ground that’s rapidly cooling, you get that nasty slush that freezes into "black ice" by the time the night-time precipitation chance hits 35%.
We aren't just talking about a dusting here. Some models are suggesting we could see 3 to 5 inches of snow by dawn on Thursday. It’s that heavy, wet snow that makes the G train even more of a gamble than usual.
Plan Your Thursday Now
Because the snow is expected to continue well into Thursday morning, the Wednesday evening commute is just the start. The "feels like" temperature is already down at 38°F and will only drop as the wind shifts to the northwest tomorrow.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the MTA status before you head out for the evening commute; the changeover from rain to snow usually triggers signal delays.
- Salt your sidewalk before 6 PM if you can. Once that rain turns to snow, it creates a layer of ice underneath the powder that is a nightmare to shovel later.
- Download the Notify NYC app for real-time alerts on the Winter Weather Advisory.
- Reschedule late-night travel if you’re heading over any of the Harlem River or East River bridges, as visibility is expected to drop significantly after 9 PM.