It took us long enough.
Central Park recorded its first measurable snowfall of the season early Wednesday, with nearly half an inch of snow as of 5:30 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. While it's hardly a blizzard, or remarkably in any way at all, really, Feb. 1, 2023 is officially encoded in city history as the latest ever date New York City saw accumulating snow.
The previous record was set on Jan. 29, 1973.
Our extended snowless streak comes to an end at 328 days, though most of us only awoke to some remnants atop car roofs and sidewalks, if any trace, before rising temperatures changed the precipitation to rain.
Also part of this historic weather week: January 2023 marked the first month ever that New York City recorded above-average temperatures all 31 days.
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Yes, let's all give ourselves a pat on the back. Back at the ranch ...
February starts out chilly, topping out in the mid-30s. It'll warm up a bit Thursday, climbing into the 40s on an otherwise regular Groundhog Day. Highs Friday will plunge back to freezing and worsen from there. Mother Nature turns downright cruel Saturday, with low-to-mid 20 highs expected for highs and mind-numbing wind chills.
Waking up Saturday, we hope you don't have to be anywhere outside: Expect single-digit lows in the city, and it will feel like -10. It will be even colder in the Hudson Valley and Connecticut (-17 in Bridgeport, -19 in Poughkeepsie).
If you do have to leave the house, be sure to bundle up: It only takes 30 minutes (or less) for frostbite set in on any exposed skin, and even walking a few blocks to a subway station will feel painful, especially if facing the wind.
There is some good news: The bitter cold won't be here for long. Beginning Saturday afternoon, temperatures will start rising — climbing to the much more tolerable low 40s Sunday afternoon. We might get some rain that afternoon, too.
It stays fairly pleasant through early next week, as forecast temps range from the mid-40s to low 50s through Friday, with a chance of showers coming late. But with temperatures so high, there won't be a concern for snow.
10-Day Outlook
