New Yorkers, consider this an official warning. Winter may just make a comeback this weekend. It won’t be a blockbuster blizzard or a snowy day like in the movies, but you can expect some light and unpredictable snow.
The setup started yesterday when a storm system skimmed us with big snow energy, only to be tempered by a surge of warm air. Instead of a full-blown snow event, most of the snow that falls in the city arrives as a wintry mix, with rain doing most of the heavy lifting. Temperatures will drop into the low 30s today, and that’s when the forecast officially enters “maybe it or not” territory.
By Friday night, there’s a small but serious chance of snow after midnight, followed by heavy snow on and off through the weekend. Saturday appears to be the weather favorite, with forecasters predicting warmer temperatures and the possibility of snow before rain arrives later in the day. The theme continues Sunday as colder air takes hold, potentially leaving some snow showers in the city. It helps keep the temperature appropriately wintry. High temperatures on Saturday hovered in the low 40s, but will return to the 30s on Sunday, making it feel colder than the numbers indicate due to wind chill.
Before you make plans for your Central Park sledding debut, know that this is shaping up to be more of a “snow globe vibe” than a “citywide shutdown.” Even if it does occur, the buildup is expected to be mild. The bigger impact is that rapid snow plumes can reduce visibility and make sidewalks slippery.
As for travel, the good news is that forecasters don’t predict major disruptions along I-95, so most commutes should be manageable. The not-so-good news is that with such rapidly changing weather, delays can creep in, especially if you’re leaving early Saturday morning or late Friday night.
So will it snow? perhaps. Will it be dramatic? Probably not. Despite an unusually mild January, it looks like winter isn’t over yet in New York.