Christmas may officially be in the rearview, but there’s still plenty of winter ahead.
New Yorkers woke up Saturday to the first major snowfall they’d seen in nearly four years. As of 7 a.m., the storm had passed, with the National Weather Service saying an approximate 4.3 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park.
It marked the first time snowfall there had exceeded 4 inches since January 2022, when more than 8 inches was observed.
Meanwhile, the broader metropolitan area recorded totals of up to 10½ inches of snow, which started late Friday afternoon after a mild Christmas, during which temperatures hovered in the mid-40s.
The snowfall was at its most intense overnight — when it came down as quickly as 2 inches an hour at times — before it slowed in the early hours of Saturday. While only a few flakes fell in the early afternoon, the cold was expected to persist through the weekend, dropping down into the low 20s by the wee hours of Sunday.
Workers clear away snow during a snowfall in Times Square on December 26, 2025, in New York City. New York, the US largest city, was bracing for up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow overnight, the most in four years. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images)
People walk in the snow in Central Park in New York City on December 27, 2025. New York City receieved around 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow overnight. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images)
A person walks through snow on December 26, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)
Traffic moves through snow in Manhattan on December 26, 2025 in New York City. The New York City metro area is forecast to get up to 8 inches of snow Friday evening and Saturday morning in what is expected to be one of the biggest snowstorms to hit the city in years. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Workers clear away snow during a snowfall in Times Square on December 26, 2025, in New York City. New York, the US largest city, was bracing for up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow overnight, the most in four years. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images)
Special weather warnings were issued for all five boroughs from 3 p.m. on Saturday through noon on Sunday, with meteorologists warning that light wind and below freezing temperatures could prevent the roads from drying out.
“Any existing areas of snowmelt could lead to black ice formation on area roadways, bridges, overpasses and any untreated surfaces,” the National Weather Service said. “Motorists and pedestrians should use caution. Reduce speed, allow extra time and be prepared for areas of slippery travel Saturday evening through midday Sunday.”
Temperatures are predicted to climb into Monday, when highs will reach nearly 50 degrees. Until then, however, the snow and ice will stick, and so, too, will the hazardous travel conditions.
The fast-moving snowstorm caused the cancellation Friday of hundreds of flights at the metropolitan area’s three major airports, and the disruptions persisted into Saturday, according to FlightAware. It came during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey anticipating nearly 15 million travelers passing through the area airports along with its bridges and tunnels for the holiday season.
Preparations began early in New York, which has been mostly spared of snow for the past several years. By midnight Friday, hundreds of city workers were out and about, spreading salt across the boroughs, said Acting Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan. He added that salt-spreading trucks were loaded and ready by 4:30 p.m.
People walk through the snow in Brooklyn after an overnight storm on December 27, 2025 in New York City. The New York City metro area received over 4 inches of snow, the first time the city had recorded over 4 inches since a winter storm in January 2022. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
As of 6 a.m. on Saturday, every street in New York City had received at least one pass with the department’s snowplows. Roughly 2,700 employees were working 12-hours shifts and were expected to continue through the weekend.
“Yes, the white stuff arrived. Snow melts and refreezes,” the Sanitation Department wrote on social media Saturday morning. “Plows and salt spreaders will be out as long as needed to address icy conditions.”
While the roads were mostly clear by late morning, Mayor Adams still recommended that New Yorkers stay home or go out on foot, but keep driving to a minimum as temps begin to dip.
During an appearance on WABC, he gave a “hats off” to the Sanitation Department, the FDNY, NYC Emergency Management and his own office for coordinating snow removal efforts.
In Olinville, the Bronx, on Saturday afternoon, there was relief that the snowstorm hadn’t been worse, plus appreciation of the job the city did keeping the roads cleared.
“They mostly clean the street, it’s not bad,” observed MD Wahid, 52. “The truck always [is going] back and forth, I saw it clean the street, and they put down the salt.
“I’ve been shoveling out here to clear the sidewalk. I thought we were going to get more snow. They were saying 10 inches, it’s much less than that.”
“I went to Home Depot yesterday to get salt and it was crowded,” he said. “Everyone was trying to prepare for the snow.”
O’Neal De La Rosa, 30, was busy cleaning the snow off his car.
“It’s better today,” he said. “They got through most of the block plowing the snow. But yesterday night it was bad. Snow was piling up, and I had to spend like three hours searching for parking.”
“For the most part, the streets look safe to drive through,” he said. “It’s just the sidewalks and shoveling snow off the sidewalks and putting down salt.”