Snowstorm

A snowstorm blankets the landscape (Larchmont, New York)—February 13, 2024. The storm brought 3.2" (8.1 cm) of snow. Overall, the season has been characterized by much below normal snowfall. Through today, seasonal snowfall is 7.5" (19.1 cm). Last winter saw the least snowfall on record with just 2.3" (5.8 cm). New York City went through a record 701-day stretch without seeing daily snowfall of 1.0" (2.5 cm) or more. The old record was 383 days.

Should New York City finish with less than 10.0" (25.4 cm) of snow, Winters 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 would mark the first time two consecutive winters had less than 10.0" (25.4 cm) of snow. (The snow season ends on June 30th, although New York City has never seen measurable snowfall after April 25th. Normal snowfall is 29.8" (75.7 cm).

In terms of temperatures, Winter 2023-2024 is concluding today with a seasonal average temperature of 40.6°F (4.8°C) in New York City. That is its fourth warmest winter on record. The past two winters have become the first occurence of two consecutive winters having average temperatures of 40.0°F (4.4°C) or warmer in New York City. Such winters were once rare. Prior to 2000, only one winter, 1931-1932, had a mean temperature of 40.0°F (4.4°C) or above. Since then five winters have seen such warmth: 2001-2002, 2011-2012, 2015-2016, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024. New York City's records go back to 1869.

Many locations experienced their warmest winter on record. Much of Canada, the Northern Plains in the United States, parts of Europe, and northwest Africa saw extraordinary warmth. Scandinavia was one of the few places that had a colder than normal winter.

Overall, it seemed that autumn lingered through the winter months giving up only its glorious colors, but not much of its warmth. Now, the early flowers of spring already dot the landscape.