New York City finally sees a legitimate snowfall after 701 days

Central Park recorded an inch of snow on the ground early Tuesday morning, snapping the longest snowless streak in New York City’s history at 701 days.

More snow is expected to fall across the city Tuesday as a result of the weather system that started dumping the white stuff across the five boroughs Monday night. A winter weather advisory remains in effect through 7 p.m. Jan. 16.

Forecasters estimate total accumulation in the city will be 2 to 4 inches of snow by the time the flakes start falling. As of 7:22 a.m. Jan. 16, the National Weather Service reported 1.4 inches of snow on the ground in Central Park. 

It had been nearly two years since New York City saw a snowfall of at least one inch; the most recent occurrence was in February 2022. It was the longest snowless streak since weather record-keeping began in 1869.

Tuesday’s snowfall, however, may not be a cause of rejoicing for commuters trying to get to work or school today. New Yorkers are reminded to allow for extra travel time while traversing the snow-slick streets, and to take public transit wherever possible.

So far, the MTA has reported few weather-related delays on the subways and buses. Visit MTA.info for the latest information.

The Sanitation Department has been out in full force with its fleet of nearly 800 salt spreaders to keep the roadways as clear as possible, and prevent icing. As of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, the agency reported spreading 40 million pounds of salt on the streets, with more to come Tuesday. 

Trash and recycling collections, however, remain on Tuesday — so don’t forget to place your waste at the curb if you’re scheduled for a pickup.