Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Snow to Finally Arrive in New York

By Sonja Sharp | January 20, 2012 7:26am | Updated on January 20, 2012 5:09pm

MANHATTAN — It won't be "Snowpocalypse," but after an unseasonably warm winter the first major snowfall of the season could be a shock to the system this weekend. 

Forecasters are predicting snow and sleet starting early Saturday morning, with a high of just 36 degrees. They are expecting 2 to 4 inches of the white stuff, though estimates have been as high as 6 inches.

The snow is expected to begin falling about 1 a.m. Saturday and last into the morning, with a mix of snow and sleet forecast mainly before noon.

As of Friday afternoon, all planned weekend work on the city's subway system had been cancelled, except ongoing work on the 7 line, the MTA said. Some of the postponed work could go back into effect depending on the severity of the storm, and riders should check the authority's website for up-to-the-moment updates.

The Department of Sanitation plans to deploy 800 to 900 snow plows overnight, increasing to 1,400 to 1,500 during the day to help with cleanup, Commissioner John Doherty said at a press conference Friday.

Each driver will be equipped with a GPS device so the department can track individual vehicles throughout the city, Doherty added. He said the city is expecting the worst conditions in northern Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. 

The department's main concern is icing, as temperatures fluctuate from day to night, and Doherty noted that the entire cleanup could last up to 48 hours.

Alternate-side parking has been suspended citywide Saturday to accommodate snow removal.

The city's Office of Emergency Management issued a hazardous travel advisory for late Friday night, when the snow is expected to begin, through Saturday night. 

The rest of the weekend will remain chilly, with highs in the mid-30s through Sunday.

But anyone waiting for the full-on arrival of winter shouldn’t hold their breath — the autumnal weather won’t be gone for long. Temperatures will hit the low 50s Monday with possible rainstorms, and temperatures will be in the 40s throughout the week, according to AccuWeather. 

The only real snowfall was unseasonably early, just before Halloween.

Since then, Manhattan saw a light dusting of snow on Jan. 13 and again on Thursday night.

The city's unseasonably balmy weather comes as other parts of the country — notably, Seattle, which saw record snowfall this week — have been hammered with heavier-than-expected winter weather. 

Check DNAinfo's current weather conditions, New York Weather Radar and our 5-Day Forecast for more.