Big Ugly Storm Headed This Way

Background photo of Owl's Head Park from The Two Ks on Flickr

In case you were wondering, snow has been on the ground at the Central Park Zoo for thirty-six consecutive days now. The polar bears must be really happy! Given the forecast for more snow and cold weather, the snow cover should be around for at least another week if not longer. While there's plenty of sun to start the day today a cold air mass will limit how much melting can take place. Look for a high around the freezing mark as high clouds arrive this afternoon.

The arriving clouds are the first signal for tomorrow's total slop of a forecast. We've got one ugly-looking storm approaching. Unlike the last several storms, which have been nor'easters, tomorrow's tempest is coming this way via the Ohio Valley. Instead of bringing tasty DiCarlo's pizza, this thing is loaded with snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain. The snow will arrive late tonight and last through tomorrow afternoon before becoming something more liquid. The city proper will probably only see a couple of inches of snow and sleet, but inland locations could see a lot more. Starting tomorrow afternoon a wedge of warm air riding over cold air near the ground will melt a lot of the snow as it falls. It is not clear if the melted snow will refreeze as sleet or remain liquid and become freezing rain when it hits the ground.

In any event, Staten Island Chuck is going to get wet on Wednesday morning as the wintry mix should last through that afternoon before changing to rain for a few hours. By Wednesday night it will be back to all snow. Yes, this is a very long-lasting storm.

The precipitation will be over by Thursday morning. In its place will be a quick visit by an arctic air mass. Thursday's high will struggle to reach the mid 20s under sunny skies. Friday will be somewhat warmer. Saturday will be warmer still but may feature another chance for snow.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Joe Schumacher in News on January 31, 2011 2:53 PM

Comments [rss]

mclainbarbosa

The article links to a beautiful devil does not mean completely, but the regional and seasonal changes in the weather is not the long-term impact on climate, because they have a tendency to balance (U.S. East Coast winter cold is more balanced and very warm hitting in the winter Greenland

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jibbly

Mmm, delicious, salty copy/paste spam...

Joe_Schumacher

Yeah, I should delete that but the gibberish copy/paste is entertaining. It's like they copied my comment and translated it through several languages before returning to english.

jibbly

spamglish?

jezzybelle

does anyone know where you can rent sleds near central or prospect park?? i've heard about all the great sled hills but no one posts where you can GET a sled. thanks!

nicemarmot

We used to use the trash can lids.

Keith Lawyer

RENT sleds? are you serious?

jezzybelle

what do you mean? it's silly to rent a sled?? or silly to ask?? please clarify.

am not interested in buying one to store on top of my fridge in my 200 foot studio apt. for the other 9 months when there is not snow on the ground.

usernameeeee

you can buy a plastic flying saucer type sled for like $1.99

jezzybelle

sweet! thank you!! will browse the dollar stores tomorrow...

xnan

K Mart (Astor) still had saucers over the weekend. Trash can lids or baking sheets (spray the bottom with PAM and you'll fly!!) work, too, in a pinch.

jibbly

Do what we used to do in HS, go to McDonalds (or comparable fast food chain) grab a bunch of brown trays and go to town. They're usually 1 time use - they splinter if you land hard, so good luck!

dead_himmler

I guess we can all finally kill the global warming theory once and for all.

Theose

Climate change. Thats more like it.

lightstays

Mother Nature is massively pissed off.

valeriob

probably because of the tampon shortage.

Trustafarian

will
not
take
bait

jhaff

I hope you're kidding.

dead_himmler

Not kidding. At this point I wish there was global warming so it was not so cold outside. Not to mention all this snow. I'm sick of winter.

handsomedevil

It's because the Arctic "shelf" has descended down to North America. Up North it's actually warmer than normal.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01...

Some climate scientists are theorizing that this is a side-effect of...wait for it....

...global warming.