Winter made an early entrance in New York City on Tuesday, as the season’s first snow dusted parts of the five boroughs amid a powerful polar vortex sweeping through the eastern half of the United States. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported light snow flurries across Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn during the morning hours, though no measurable accumulation was recorded.
According to NWS meteorologist Stephen McCloud, “Due to the lack of available moisture, there is just a small chance of light snow today.” However, the blast of Arctic air accompanying the system has dramatically dropped temperatures. Highs in the low 40s combined with wind chills between 25 and 35 degrees have made the city feel more like mid-January than November. Gusts of up to 40 mph were also recorded, particularly along the Hudson River waterfront and Long Island City.
Arctic Air Mass Sweeps Eastern US, Freeze Warning in Effect
The polar vortex, which originated over northern Canada, has plunged southward due to a strong jet stream dip, spreading frigid air across the eastern US, forecasters said. Nearly 100 million people from the Great Lakes to the Northeast are experiencing unseasonably cold conditions, with parts of upstate New York seeing their first accumulating snow.
“The massive polar vortex has brought an early taste of winter to the tri-state area,” McCloud told Fox Weather. “Temperatures will rise slightly into the 40s by afternoon but remain below average before returning to normal midweek.”
Officials in New York City urged residents to bundle up and exercise caution when walking or driving, as frost and slick surfaces may develop overnight. “We’re advising New Yorkers to be alert to icy patches on roads and sidewalks,” said a city emergency management spokesperson.
More Snow for the Great Lakes, Cold Continues in Northeast
While New York City’s snowfall was light, heavier accumulations are forecast across the Great Lakes region and interior Northeast, where lake-effect snow bands could bring several inches of accumulation. Forecasters expect temperatures to gradually normalise by Wednesday, though cold winds will persist through midweek.
Photos and videos shared on social media showed flakes falling over Long Island City, Derby, New York, and Upstate towns, giving residents a picturesque—if brief—preview of the winter ahead.