So, you’re looking at the sky in New York and wondering if that gray slab of clouds is actually going to do anything. Honestly, the saturday weather forecast nyc has been a bit of a moving target this week. If you were expecting a massive blizzard to shut down the subways on Saturday, January 17, 2026, you might’ve been a little underwhelmed—or relieved, depending on how much you hate shoveling.
Basically, the city saw a "burst" of snow earlier today. It wasn't the kind of "Day After Tomorrow" event that makes the news cycles go crazy, but it was enough to get the salt spreaders out. According to the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), those salt spreaders have been active on every street, highway, and bike lane since this morning.
The Saturday Reality Check
While some parts of the Lower Hudson Valley got hit with a solid 2 to 5 inches, the Five Boroughs stayed mostly in the "dusting to an inch" zone. Why the disparity? It's that classic NYC weather drama where the "rain-snow line" hovers right over Central Park like a stubborn houseguest. Temperatures today stayed just warm enough—hovering around 33°F to 35°F—to keep the accumulation from getting serious on the pavement.
Most of the white stuff you see right now is sticking to the grass and the tops of parked cars. The roads are mostly just slushy and gross.
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But here’s the thing: don’t let the Saturday calm fool you.
Why Sunday is the Real Story
If you think Saturday was the main event, you've gotta look at what's coming next. NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) and the National Weather Service have already issued a Travel Advisory for Sunday, January 18. This is part of a "two-part" system.
- Part One (Saturday): A quick wave that brought light, slushy accumulation.
- Part Two (Sunday): A more potent coastal low developing off the Mid-Atlantic coast.
For Sunday, we are looking at a much higher chance of "stickage." The temperature is expected to drop, and the DSNY has already issued a formal Snow Alert starting at 4:00 a.m. Sunday. They aren’t just playing around with salt anymore; they have 700 million pounds of it ready, and the plows are staged for anything over two inches.
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The Expert Nuance
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Upton have been tracking a shortwave embedded in a larger trough. What does that mean for your Saturday night plans? It means the "lull" we're seeing this evening is temporary.
By tomorrow morning—specifically between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.—the snow will return. This time, it’s likely to be more widespread. We're talking 1 to 3 inches across the city, with eastern Queens and southeast Brooklyn potentially seeing a bit more if that coastal low tracks just a few miles closer to the shore.
Actionable Steps for New Yorkers
If you’re reading this on Saturday night, here is what you actually need to do:
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- Check the MLK Day Schedule: Monday, January 19, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. DSNY has already confirmed there will be NO trash or recycling collection on Monday. If you normally put your stuff out Sunday night for a Monday pickup, hold off until Monday evening.
- Sidewalk Duty: If the snow does pile up on Sunday, remember the legal windows. If it stops falling before 5 p.m., you’ve got 4 hours to clear your path. If it stops in the evening, you have until 11 a.m. the next morning.
- Travel Smart: Saturday night might be fine for a quick Uber, but Sunday morning is going to be messy. If you don't have to be on the BQE or the LIE, just don't.
The saturday weather forecast nyc was really just the opening act for a much colder, snowier Sunday. Keep an eye on the thermometer tonight; as those temps dip below freezing, that slush on the sidewalks is going to turn into a sheet of ice.
Stay warm, keep the rock salt handy, and maybe just order in tomorrow.
Next Steps for You:
- Check the 311 app for real-time updates on plow progress (via the Bladerunner 2.0 system).
- Sign up for Notify NYC to get text alerts if the Travel Advisory gets upgraded to a Warning.