New York City’s Winter Storm Delivers Only a Taste of the Forecasted Blizzard
A highly publicized snowstorm that was expected to blanket New York City with nearly 11 inches of snow instead delivered a more modest 4 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the lighter fall, the storm still disrupted travel plans and forced the city’s sanitation crews to work overtime to keep streets clear.
A Sudden Shift in Forecast
The day’s dramatic change in outlook came late on Friday night. The city’s Emergency Management department announced that the storm would bring only 2‑5 inches of snow across the five boroughs. That cut the original prediction of 7‑11 inches—a tally that would have been the heaviest snowfall since the 16.8‑inch blizzard in Central Park in 2021—by about a third.
“We’re going into a lot of cold air, which is dense. It kind of slows things down quite a bit,” explained AccuWeather meteorologist Melissa Constancer, who noted that the cold front’s high density muted the expected blizzard.
Snowfall Totals Across the City
Queens topped the list of snowfall, recording 4.6 inches by 7 a.m., as per the NWS. Fordham, Williamsburg, and Central Park each logged 4.3 inches. The storm’s flurries were expected to continue past 11 a.m., though they were unlikely to add significantly to the total.
The Department of Sanitation deployed 700 salt spreaders and maintained its plow schedule throughout the day to keep streets as passable as possible.
Constancer compared the storm to the snowiest January 2022, when Central Park saw 8.3 inches: “4.3 inches of snow in New York City in the snowiest January 20th‑29th of 2022. It got 8.3 inches there in Central Park,” she said.
Regional Impact Beyond Manhattan
Nassau County received snowfall similar to the city’s, while Suffolk County saw nearly double the amount in some spots. Babylon and Orient recorded the highest totals at 7.5 inches each. Connecticut’s New Fairfield topped the wider metro area with 9 inches by 4 a.m.
All three major airports—John F. Kennedy International, La Guardia, and Newark—experienced about 4.1‑4.3 inches of snow, enough to stall air traffic and strand thousands of passengers.
Flight Cancellations and Delays
JFK’s disruptions were the worst: 133 flights were canceled and 73 delayed, the highest numbers for any U.S. airport on that Saturday, per FlightAware. La Guardia and Newark followed with 85 and 70 cancellations, respectively.
One of those hit hardest was AJ Abad, a 33‑year‑old traveler from the Philippines. He and his family were expecting a brief two‑hour layover before heading home to Canada. Instead, they were stranded for 36 hours, with no hotel rooms available and only a few standby seats offered.
“We didn’t sleep. We kept on walking around. We asked for hotel accommodation. They said no because the cancellation was due to the weather, it’s not their fault. We asked for a voucher, they said no,” Abad told the Post. “There was a whole line of people sleeping on the floor last night.”
While American Airlines supplied blankets and pillows, the supplies ran short, leaving many guests without.
“At first, it was frustrating. All we want to do is get back home. At this point, there’s nothing we can do. We’re only two hours away from home,” Abad added. “I’m looking forward to a hot bath, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. At this point, we’re just making the best of everything, but we want to go home.”
Conclusion
Although New York City did not experience the massive snowstorm it had feared, the 4‑inch deposit still imposed significant logistical challenges. Travelers faced widespread flight cancellations, while city officials ran a tireless sanitation effort to keep the city moving. In the days ahead, residents and commuters will likely look back on the storm as a reminder that even a quarter‑scale snow event can ripple across an entire metro region.
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