While New York City didn’t see a white Christmas, it may be a very white weekend.
A quick moving snowstorm set to tap into fresh Arctic air will chill out much of the tri-state area and could bring significant snowfall to New York, New Jersey and swaths of southern and central New England starting on Friday night, according the National Weather Service.
Snowfall of 4 to 8 inches is possible and as much as 10 inches is a “reasonable worst case scenario,” according to the forecast, with snow typically falling at a rate of 1 inch per hour and, at times, as quickly as 2 inches per hour. The precipitation will begin early enough to affect Friday evening’s commute, starting off light and dry before growing wetter and heavier as the storm moves into the area.
According to AccuWeather, the snowfall will likely be at its most intense overnight, around 2 or 3 a.m. on Saturday and continuing through the morning and into the early afternoon hours, when the flakes are expected to taper off entirely.
“This fast-moving storm will pack a punch in the Northeast right after Christmas. Holiday travelers should prepare for major slowdowns on roads and at airports,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
“Travel plans could be delayed or disrupted for millions of people trying to visit loved ones or returning home after Christmas,” he continued. “The busy period for shopping, gift exchanges and returns after Christmas may also be impacted.”
A winter storm watch is in effect for much of the tri-state area, including New York City, beginning 4 p.m. Friday and continuing through 1 p.m. Saturday.
New York City Emergency Management has also issued a travel advisory for the same timeframe, with both Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul urging New Yorkers to avoid travel if possible.
“New York is no stranger to snow and cold weather, and given the Christmas holidays, it’s important to be extra prepared before getting on the road,” Hochul said in a statement.
“As always, I urge New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast, and text their county or borough name to our weather and emergency alerts system,” she continued. “Stay vigilant, drive slow if you need to travel and have a safe holiday weekend.”
The city has seen little snow this year outside of a few inches earlier this month. Before that, the last measurable snow in NYC was on Feb. 20, 2025, which wrapped a disappointing season for winter weather lovers.
Last year, just more than a foot of snow accumulated throughout the entire season, topping 2023’s total, which measured just about 8 inches. The snowfall in the year prior was even more meager, with totals barely topping 2 inches.
It follows a fairly mild and sunny Christmas day, when highs hovered in the low and mid-40s. But that’s where the warm weather is set to end, with temperatures forecast to plunge into the 20s on Friday.
