It looks like New York City is on its way to having one of its least snowy winters in years. So far, levels of accumulation have been more mild than usual and experts have predicted, with temperatures being quite mild during what’s usually considered the snowiest time of year. With the near-absence of snow in the forecast, one can only wonder if the city is currently on track for the least snowy winter on record.
History of New York City’s Snowfall
Since 1869, New York City has kept a record of its yearly snowfall. By taking a look at the historical data, we can see how this winter is faring compared to previous years. Going back to 1980, the two snowiest years were 1995-1996 and 1998-1999, both of which acquired over 58 inches of snowfall. The least snowiest year on record was in 2011-2012, when the city saw only 19.8 inches in total. Overall, the average snowfall in NYC over the past 41 years has been between 28 to 31 inches, suggesting that a moderate level of snow is more the norm than anything else.
2020-2021 Season Forecast
So far, the 2020-2021 winter season has been well below average when it comes to snowfall. Going into the season, the expert forecast predicted that NYC would get between 28 to 34 inches of snow this year. However, thus far we’ve only seen approximately 11 inches – nowhere near what was expected. This means that the likelihood of having one of the least snowy seasons on record has increased.
Homeowners Relief
The decreased snowfall means good news for homeowners in the area. Typically, heavy snowfall means added expenses from snowplowing and shoveling costs. But with the least snow falling in years, these costs will be significantly less and the city’s already tight budget can be relieved to some extent.
New York’s Businesses Benefit
Businesses in the city are also able to benefit from this mild winter in a variety of ways. To start, the fewer days of bad weather leads to fewer days where customers can’t come to their stores or restaurants. Next, fewer snowstorms mean that store merchandise and restaurant ingredients can be more reliably shipped in, reducing spoilage and disruptions in the availability of stock. Finally, fewer bad days also means workers are able to make it to their jobs more reliably, reducing the need to hire extra labor or use flexibility practices to make up for any manpower shortages.
Tourism and Recreation
The decrease in snow can also be seen as a potential boost to the local tourism and recreation industry. The milder winter weather means that outdoor activities can still be enjoyed comfortably, which is a major draw for visitors. Additionally, those looking for winter activities like skiing and snowmobiling will likely opt for winter sports destinations with more reliable snowfall and natural snow cover, instead of areas with more mild winters like NYC.
It looks like NYC is on its way to having one of its best winters in terms of snow accumulation. So far, the data suggests that snowfall accumulation is at its lowest since 2011, when only 19.8 inches of snow was recorded in the city. This is great news for homeowners and businesses in the city, who will benefit from reduced expenses, and can potentially be a boost to the local tourism and recreation industry. With milder than usual winter temperatures, this could very well be New York City’s least snowy winter on record.
