You wake up, look out the window of your Brooklyn apartment, and see... nothing. Just grey pavement and a cold drizzle. It feels like New York winters have changed, right? Honestly, they have. But if you think big snow is a thing of the past, you’re looking at the wrong numbers.
The conversation around snowfall totals New York city usually starts with someone complaining that it doesn't snow like it did in the 70s. Or the 90s. Then someone else points to a massive blizzard that shut down the FDR Drive three years ago. Both of these people are kind of right, which is what makes NYC weather so frustratingly unpredictable.
The Weird Reality of Recent NYC Snow
Let’s look at the actual data. Central Park is the official yardstick. If it doesn't happen at Belvedere Castle, the National Weather Service doesn't officially count it for "the city."
In the 2023-2024 season, we saw a measly 0.2 inches of snow by early January. It was a literal snow drought. We went over 700 days without a single inch of snow falling in a single calendar day. That broke a record from the late 90s and left kids with brand-new sleds feeling pretty depressed.
But then look at the 2024-2025 season. We ended up with roughly 12.9 inches. Still way below the historical average of about 25 to 30 inches, but at least we had to dig the cars out once or twice.
Weather experts like those at the National Weather Service (NWS) Upton office point to a few culprits:
- The Urban Heat Island: All those buildings and asphalt hold onto heat.
- The Atlantic Ocean: It's getting warmer. A "warm" ocean means a coastal storm that would have been a blizzard in 1950 is now just a nasty, cold rain.
- La Niña Patterns: We've been stuck in cycles that push the cold air further north or west.
Snowfall Totals New York City: The All-Time Heavy Hitters
When it hits, it really hits. The record for the biggest single snowstorm in NYC history isn't from some ancient Victorian winter. It happened in January 2016. That monster dumped 27.5 inches of snow on Central Park in just two days.
Think about that. Over two feet of snow in a city where most people don't own a shovel.
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Here is how the top five historical storms stack up:
- January 2016: 27.5 inches (The undisputed king).
- February 2006: 26.9 inches (The "oops" storm that was supposed to be a dusting).
- December 1947: 26.4 inches (The one your grandparents still talk about).
- March 1888: 21.0 inches (The Great Blizzard that led to the subway being built).
- February 2010: 20.9 inches.
You’ll notice something weird there. Four of the top five largest storms have happened since 1947, and three of them happened after 2000.
Climate change is a bit of a paradox here. While we are seeing more "brown" winters with zero snow, the storms that do manage to break through have more moisture to work with because the atmosphere is warmer. Basically, we get fewer snow days, but the ones we get are increasingly likely to be chaotic.
Why the Boroughs Never Agree
If you live in Staten Island or the Bronx, you know the Central Park number is often a lie.
Because NYC is a coastal city, a few miles makes a massive difference. During a typical Nor'easter, the "rain-snow line" usually sits right over the city. Queens might be getting pelted with freezing rain while the North Bronx is getting six inches of powder.
I’ve seen winters where Brooklyn gets 10 inches and Central Park gets 14. Or the other way around. If the wind is coming off the ocean, the coast stays warm. If the cold air is draining down the Hudson Valley, the Bronx gets buried.
Predicting the 2025-2026 Winter
So, where are we now? As of early 2026, the patterns are shifting again.
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Early reports from the 2025-2026 season showed a trace in November and about 7.2 inches in December. It’s a respectable start. We are seeing a "weak La Niña" transition, which historically means a toss-up for the Northeast.
Some years, La Niña keeps us dry. Other years, it opens the door for "clippers"—fast-moving storms from Canada that drop 2-3 inches and vanish before the morning commute.
One thing we are seeing more of is the Arctic Oscillation (AO). When the AO goes negative, the "polar vortex" weakens and spills cold air into the Eastern U.S. If that happens at the same time a moisture-rich storm moves up the coast, that’s when you get those 20-inch totals that break the internet.
Snow Removal and City Logistics
Snow isn't just pretty; it's a billion-dollar logistical nightmare.
The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has a fleet of over 2,000 plow-equipped trucks. They spend millions on salt alone. When the snowfall totals New York city start climbing above 6 inches, the city enters a "snow emergency."
Alternate side parking is suspended. Outdoor dining sheds (those leftover from the pandemic era) get crushed. Trash pickup stops. It’s a total gridlock.
If you’re a New Yorker, the real metric isn't the inches on the ground; it's the "slush-to-puddle" ratio at the crosswalk. We all know that deep, black slush that looks like solid ground but is actually a six-inch deep pool of freezing filth.
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Actionable Steps for the Next Big One
Since we are clearly in an era of "all or nothing" snow, you can't just wing it anymore.
Watch the "Dew Point," not just the temperature.
If the temperature is 34 degrees but the dew point is 25, that rain will likely turn to snow as the storm intensifies. This is called "evaporational cooling." If you see the dew point hovering near freezing, don't bother salt-prepping your sidewalk—it’s just going to wash away in the rain.
Get a "Snow Pusher," not just a shovel.
New York snow is usually heavy and wet. Lifting it will blow out your back. A wide pusher shovel allows you to clear a path without lifting.
Follow the "Upton" NWS feed.
The local meteorologists at the Upton, NY office are the ones actually looking at the radar for the city. National apps are often too generic.
Check your local "Zone."
New York is divided into snow zones. If you’re in a "Priority" zone (near a hospital or major bus route), your street will be plowed first. If you’re on a small side street in South Brooklyn, buy extra milk. You aren't seeing a plow for 24 hours.
The historical average of 25.1 inches is becoming less of a "typical year" and more of a statistical fluke. We now oscillate between years with almost nothing and years where a single storm gives us the entire season's worth of snow in one go. Whether you love the white stuff or hate the "slushpocalypse," the data shows that NYC's relationship with snow is getting more extreme, not less.
Keep an eye on the Atlantic water temperatures. If they stay high, expect more rain. If they dip, and that Arctic air finds a way south, we might just see another 2016-style record-breaker sooner than people think.