What's New
An inch of fresh snowfall brought extra holiday cheer to New York City on Tuesday, increasing the chances that Central Park could have its first white Christmas in 15 years.
Why It Matters
As Christmas Day gets closer, forecasts reveal which states and cities could have a snow-covered holiday.
New York City could be included in that list for the first time in 15 years as Central Park saw one inch of snow Christmas Eve morning, the official amount needed to qualify as a "white Christmas." Temperatures above freezing could melt some of the snow before the holiday.
What to Know
Snow showers moved through the New York area early Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in New York City said.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the NWS New York said that up to 2 inches of snow was expected to accumulate north of the city. As the snow showers tracked east, they were weakening, meaning it could be less than an inch for New York City, though there was enough for a fresh dusting.
According to official records, an inch fell in New York City, adding to an inch that was already on the ground.
People took to social media to celebrate how Central Park turned into a winter wonderland. However, temperatures are currently at 32 degrees Fahrenheit with a high of 37 degrees expected along with sunny weather, meaning some of that fresh snow will likely melt.
What People Are Saying
NWS meteorologist Bryan Ramsey told Newsweek: No more snow is expected in Central Park before Christmas, but there's a chance some could remain on the ground. "It is going to get above freezing, so some of it may melt with the sunshine, but the question is how much. The last time it snowed on Christmas Eve was 2021, when we saw two-tenths of an inch."
FOX Weather shared a post and photos of the snow on X: "MAGICAL! Is there anything more wonderful than snow in New York City? How about snow on Christmas Eve?! The Big Apple's snowiest Christmas Eve ever was 11.4" in 1912; that's the same year the Titanic sunk! The last white Christmas was in 2009."
NWS office in New York asked people to share their Christmas Eve snow totals on X: "SHARE your Christmas Eve snow totals! - Take average of 3 measurements on flat surface (not grass) to 0.1" accuracy away from buildings/trees - Snow boards preferred - Include a photo of measurement, if possible - Exact location (town + intersection) - Observation time."
What Happens Next
Some of the snow could melt before Christmas morning, meaning the accumulation could fall below the one-inch threshold for a white Christmas. There are no weather alerts in place for the New York City area, meaning roads are clear for last-minute holiday travel occurring on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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About the writer
Anna Skinner
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ...
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