Honestly, if you've ever spent a winter in New York, you know the forecast is basically a suggestion until it’s actually hitting your face. Right now, it’s a bit of a mess. New York is sitting at a chilly 31°F as of late Saturday night, and it’s feeling every bit like the heart of January. It’s cloudy, the air is damp with 87% humidity, and there’s a light 2 mph breeze coming from the west. It’s that kind of cold that just sits on you.
What Most People Get Wrong About New York Winters
Most people think "cold" means "snow," but in this city, it's the slush you have to watch out for. Saturday was a perfect example of that NYC special: a mix of rain and snow with a high of 38°F that turned the street corners into deep, icy lakes. If you were out yesterday, you saw the 100% chance of snow during the day turn into a cloudy, quiet night with the temperature dropping to 30°F.
But here’s the thing. The city is currently under a Winter Weather Advisory. If you’re looking at what is the weather nyc is throwing at us for Sunday, January 18, it’s not exactly a beach day.
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We’re looking at snow showers starting early—some models say as early as 5 a.m. The high for Sunday is only hitting 34°F, and the low is going to bottom out at 25°F. We’re expecting about 1 to 3 inches of accumulation citywide. It’s not a blizzard, but it’s enough to make the subway stairs slippery and the bridges a total nightmare.
Survival Guide for the Next Few Days
You gotta layer. Seriously.
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- Sunday (Today): Snow is the main event. There’s a 40% chance of precipitation during both the day and night. The wind is shifting to the north at 6 mph, so that 34-degree high is going to feel significantly sharper.
- Monday (MLK Day): The clouds finally break. It’ll be sunny with a high of 32°F, but don't let the sun fool you. The low is 21°F. Plus, remember there’s no trash collection on the holiday, so the sidewalks are going to be a maze of snow and bags.
- Tuesday: This is the real arctic kick. We’re talking a high of only 24°F and a bone-chilling low of 15°F. With 13 mph winds from the west, you’ll want every inch of skin covered.
The Slush and the Salt
The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has already called a Snow Alert. They've got something like 700 million pounds of salt ready to go. You’ll see the spreaders out on the highways and even the bike lanes. If you're driving, don't crowd the plows. They’re tracking everything with a system called Bladerunner 2.0 now, which sounds like a sci-fi movie but basically just means they’re trying to keep the streets from becoming skating rinks.
Practical Steps for New Yorkers
If you’re heading out, here’s the move. Check your footwear. If your boots aren't waterproof, you're going to have a bad time when you hit a "gray-water" puddle at a crosswalk.
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- Avoid unnecessary travel on Sunday morning when the snow is heaviest (usually between 8 a.m. and noon).
- Check on your neighbors. If the heat in your building is acting up, call 311.
- Service your car. If you haven't checked your antifreeze or battery yet, Tuesday’s 15-degree low will find the weakness for you.
New York weather is rarely just one thing; it's a mood. Right now, that mood is "stay inside with a bagel and wait for the sun on Monday."