NYC Weather Alert: Possible Snowstorm Developing for Next Week

Although temperatures in New York City may be mild on Thursday, wintry conditions will return, potentially setting the stage for snowfall in the coming days.

According to AccuWeather analyst Peyton Simmers, a storm could hit the East Coast late next week, bringing snow.

“Right now we’re in the midst of a warmup, right now, for New York City compared to what it’s been,” according to Simmers. “And then as we start to look into next week, there are signs that the cold air is going to return back to the Northeast, and there is potential late next week that there could be a storm around that could give some snow to the East Coast, but a lot has to come together for that to unfold.”

For this storm to occur, two bits of energy must travel across the United States and “phase” together. If those two systems “miss each other” and fail to phase, snow is improbable, according to Simmers.

According to the meteorologist, additional atmospheric elements influence whether or not a snowstorm forms.

Although the chances of a snowstorm are slim, “the chance is there,” Simmers added.

The return of chilly weather appears to be a positive for the storm.

The typical high temperature in New York City during this time of year is around 40 degrees. Simmers noted that Wednesday’s high temperature was about 50 degrees.

“So we’re at least 9-10 degrees above the historical average for this time of the year,” he told me.

Simmers predicts temperatures will be close to the January average next week, but they may even fall below it.

Although temperatures may decrease, they may not be as frigid as in December, according to Simmers.

Even if the storm does form next week, Simmers is unable to forecast how much snow will fall.

“We really don’t know at this point [snowfall estimates], because even if it phases, it still has to take the precise track to hit the east coast cities,” according to Simmers. “Because it can stay farther offshore, and then, you know, everybody gets next to nothing, or it can go a little bit more inland, and rain can be an issue.”