Blizzard Warning for New York City

New Yorkers should brace themselves for another round of snowstorms, with predictions of up to 18 inches of snow falling across the area.

Just as the last messy snow piles began to thaw and cars were finally freed from their icy tombs, a new storm system is on the way. It’s prompting blizzard warnings for Sunday and Monday, with snowfall rates potentially exceeding an inch per hour.

AccuWeather meteorologist Carl Erickson characterized this system as a significant Northeast storm, stating, “Travel conditions are becoming hazardous due to very strong winds and near-blizzard conditions.” He added that conditions could rapidly worsen from Sunday night into early Monday.

A blizzard warning will take effect for New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey starting at 6 a.m. Sunday and will remain in place until 6 p.m. Monday. Forecasters have released weather maps shaded in ominous purple to underscore the storm’s severity.

This warning is issued when snow accumulations are expected to hit between 13 to 18 inches along with wind gusts reaching 55 mph or higher.

The five boroughs and New Jersey are likely to receive between 6 to 12 inches, whereas areas like Queens and Brooklyn might see totals closer to 1 foot. Long Island and coastal Connecticut could fare even worse, potentially accumulating over a foot of snow, with Suffolk County facing an estimated 18 inches.

This storm will bring not only heavy snow but also winds up to 50 mph in the city and 60 mph on Long Island, raising concerns about localized power outages.

Light snow could start as early as late Sunday morning, likely when temperatures hover just above freezing, but as temperatures drop, heavier snow is expected by the afternoon.

“Given sub-zero temps, snow accumulation will likely be challenging to prevent throughout the day on Sunday,” Erickson noted. He expects the worst conditions to materialize Sunday night into Monday morning, labeling it the peak of this nor’easter.

Snowfall is anticipated to ramp up around 5 p.m. Sunday, reaching its heaviest from midnight to 8 a.m. Monday. During this time, an inch or more of snow per hour could accumulate.

Heavy precipitation will persist into Monday morning but is expected to lessen around noon, easing off by late afternoon. Erickson indicated that while the snowfall would taper after dawn, light snow could still linger into Monday afternoon.

Temperatures will be in the mid-30s on Sunday and a bit warmer in the lower 30s on Monday. “This storm won’t introduce any extreme cold, so snow accumulation during the day may be tough,” he remarked.

Looking ahead, temperatures are predicted to remain in the mid-30s on Tuesday and creep back into the low 40s by Wednesday and Thursday. “As a result, snow will gradually melt over the course of the week,” he added.

It’s worth noting that the last significant snowstorm, dubbed “Snowzilla,” graced New York City back in January 2016, when over two feet fell across the city.