donsutherland1

A weak system will bring some light snow possibly mixing with or ending as some light rain or drizzle in some areas tomorrow. New York City will likely see a coating to 1". A 1"-3" snowfall is possible in the northern and western suburbs where it will be somewhat colder. The temperature will likely remain above freezing throughout the day on Tuesday in New York City. In New York City, only 25.6% of storms have seen measurable snowfall with a daily low of 33° or above with just 9.2% seeing 1" or more snowfall. Almost three-quarters (74.4%) of such events have seen only a trace of snowfall. Another system could bring precipitation on Friday into Saturday. This system could have more moisture to work with than tomorrow's. No exceptionally cold or warm weather appears likely for the first week of astronomical winter. The closing days of December will likely be colder than normal. December 2025 will likely finish with a maximum monthly temperature below 60° in New York City. The last time that happened was in 2019 when the monthly high was 58°. If 2025 has a monthly high below 60°, that would be only the fifth such occurrence since 2000 (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2019 are the cases since 2000). The ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly was -0.6°C and the Region 3.4 anomaly was -0.8°C for the week centered around December 17. For the past six weeks, the ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly has averaged -0.40°C and the ENSO Region 3.4 anomaly has averaged -0.68°C. La Niña conditions will likely continue through at least mid-winter. The SOI was +10.59 today. The preliminary Arctic Oscillation (AO) was +1.620 today. The PNA was -1.766. That's the lowest winter value since December 24, 2021 when the PNA was -2.084. Based on sensitivity analysis applied to the latest guidance, there is an implied near 100% probability that New York City will have a cooler than normal December (1991-2020 normal). December will likely finish with a mean temperature near 34.3° (4.8° below normal). Supplemental Information: The projected mean would be 3.1° below the 1981-2010 normal monthly value.

No. Below are the PNA values: 2004 1 27 0.127 2004 1 28 0.228

It would certainly be unusual. The New York City area hasn't seen many 4" or greater snowstorms when the PNA has been negative. Lighter amounts are far more common. Boston is usually favored with 4" or above amounts.

Updated NWS Map:

Thank you, @jconsor. This is encouraging to know.

I agree concerning a miss to the south. The historical odds would favor something further north than what the recent runs of the GFS have been showing. It should also be noted that most storms during PNA- patterns have lighter amounts. Many options are on the table, including a weak, sheared out primary that produces very little precipitation. Let's see how things evolve.

MJO812 uncancelled it.

For reference, I'll add this information here for second half of December PNA- snowstorms.

Is is possible that these charts also have an algorithmic issue? Here's the GEFS from NCEP's site:

For reference in light of some of the recent guidance suggesting the potential for a more substantial system late in the week:

The WPC mapping tool isn't topographic. Hopefully, as AI allows for greater detail at reduced computing power, future maps will be topographic in nature to better capture elevation-related accumulations.

Not much has changed overnight. A coating of snow seems likely in New York City and its nearby suburbs due to a combination of marginal temperatures and light precipitation rates. 1"-2" is likely in the distant northern and western suburbs. There could be some 3" amounts in places like Binghamton. Overall, the system remains on course to be a minor one. The latest WPC maps: For reference: the latest NWS Map:

Those are large differences. I'm not sure whether the algorithm is faulty or their methodology is off.

No changes in thinking at this time. With marginal temperatures and light precipitation rates, most of the New York City area will probably see little more than a coating. The City will likely see temperatures remain above freezing for most or all of the storm. A trace of snow cannot be ruled out for parts of the City. Nearly three-quarters of events with temperatures above freezing saw no measurable snowfall while just one-in-six had 1" or more in Central Park's climate record. It is possible that the precipitation could mix with or end as some light rain or drizzle in and around New York City. The distant northern and western suburbs continue to have the best chance of seeing 1"-2", as readings will likely be near or perhaps even a little below freezing during much of the event. The latest WPC maps for 24-hour probabilities of 1" or more and 2" or more snowfall are below:

The latest from the NWS:

Tomorrow will be a bit cooler with temperatures returning to the upper 30s. A weak system will bring some light snow or snow showers to the region on Tuesday. There is a chance that New York City could pick up a coating but a measurable snowfall is not a guaranteed outcome for the City. A 1"-2" snowfall is possible in the distant northern and western suburbs where it will be colder. The temperature will likely remain above freezing throughout the day on Tuesday. In New York City, only 25.6% of storms have seen measurable snowfall with a daily low of 33° or above with just 9.2% seeing 1" or more snowfall. Almost three-quarters (74.4%) of such events have seen only a trace of snowfall. No exceptionally cold or warm weather appears likely for the first week of astronomical winter. The closing week of December could experience periodic warmer and cooler days. The probability that December 2025 will have a maximum monthly temperature below 60° has increased further. The last time that happened was in 2019 when the monthly high was 58°. If 2025 has a monthly high below 60°, that would be only the fifth such occurrence since 2000 (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2019 are the cases since 2000). The ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly was -0.3°C and the Region 3.4 anomaly was -0.7°C for the week centered around December 10. For the past six weeks, the ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly has averaged -0.33°C and the ENSO Region 3.4 anomaly has averaged -0.67°C. La Niña conditions will likely continue through at least mid-winter. The SOI was +13.96 today. The preliminary Arctic Oscillation (AO) was +1.100 today. The PNA was -1.604. That is the lowest winter value since January 8, 2023 when the PNA stood at -1.618. Based on sensitivity analysis applied to the latest guidance, there is an implied near 100% probability that New York City will have a cooler than normal December (1991-2020 normal). December will likely finish with a mean temperature near 34.6° (4.5° below normal). Supplemental Information: The projected mean would be 2.8° below the 1981-2010 normal monthly value.

Thank you for the kind words, Bncho.

I'm thinking up to a coating in the City (<1") and maybe 1"-2" well north and west. There may be more downside risks than upside ones for the City e.g., precipitation rate might be too light. White Plains might be around an inch or so.

Webb describes a plausible scenario. It's not the only possibility, despite his skill and expertise. Prior to about 1980, December PNA- cases (-0.500 or below average) were typically followed by January PNA- cases. Since 1980, most cases have seen the PNA flip in January. The difference in PNA persistence could reflect the changes that have taken place due to Arctic amplification rather than statistical factors e.g., sample size. With Arctic sea ice extent continuing to set new daily record lows, the risk of a fairly abrupt change can't be ruled out. That there has been a strong clustering of December-January cases prior to and after 1980 (Dec PNA-/Jan PNA- prior to 1980 and Dec PNA-/Jan PNA+ since 1980) suggests that more than random variability is involved. That does not guarantee a flip to positive for January, but model skill at such a timeframe is essentially non-existent. Yes, both the EPS and GEFS paint a picture of a perpetual PNA-. But that's current modeling. The long-range isn't cast in stone, at least as far as January is concerned. Assuming a canonical La Niña winter, I think things are tilted toward a warm February, especially in the East.

The latest from WPC:

As is often the case during La Niña, winter arrived abruptly. It came on fast, cold, and at times snowy, especially across the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast. But the PNA turned increasingly and persistently negative. As its negative state grew stronger, it began to consume winter. Voices quickly rose to declare winter finished before it had truly begun. Some had even pronounced it stillborn from the outset. As Hanukkah arrived and Christmas drew near, fatalism spread like the unwelcome Influenza virus. The earlier December snows faded into memory. What remained were only fragments of seemed to be a winter that nearly was. Others, however, saw something different. They treated the shift not as an ending, but as an invitation. They saw the pause as an opportunity to reflect on moments that failed to fully arrive yet still left their mark. They recognized how seasons, like ideas or paths, often shape us not through completion, but through incompleteness. They held onto their dreams of snow, their faith in winter intact even as it was tested and surrounded by a growing chorus of voices whose belief had long since shattered. Then, on the heels of the winter solstice, the 12/21/2025 0z EPS arrived. 12/20 0z run: 12/21 0z run: Although it was one cycle of an Ensemble at a distant timeframe, it bore a message. It did not guarantee that an epic winter period lay ahead. However, with its smaller Southeast ridge, it whispered that perhaps the worst fears expressed by some might never come to pass. The journey continues.

While we wait for the next snow... Note: All photos were taken at the New York Botanical Garden on December 14, 2025.

Tomorrow will be a bit milder with temperatures returning to the lower 40s with another brief push of somewhat cooler air following for Monday. No exceptionally cold or warm weather appears likely for the first week of astronomical winter. In terms of precipitation, light snow or snow showers are possible on Tuesday. The closing week of December could experience periodic warmer and cooler days. It now appears that the cooler anomalies will persist mainly in central and northern New England. The probability that December 2025 will have a maximum monthly temperature below 60° has increased further. The last time that happened was in 2019 when the monthly high was 58°. If 2025 has a monthly high below 60°, that would be only the fifth such occurrence since 2000 (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2019 are the cases since 2000). The ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly was -0.3°C and the Region 3.4 anomaly was -0.7°C for the week centered around December 10. For the past six weeks, the ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly has averaged -0.33°C and the ENSO Region 3.4 anomaly has averaged -0.67°C. La Niña conditions will likely continue through at least mid-winter. The SOI was +8.15 today. The preliminary Arctic Oscillation (AO) was +1.749 today. Based on sensitivity analysis applied to the latest guidance, there is an implied near 99% probability that New York City will have a cooler than normal December (1991-2020 normal). December will likely finish with a mean temperature near 34.5° (4.6° below normal). Supplemental Information: The projected mean would be 2.9° below the 1981-2010 normal monthly value.

Cooler air is now pouring into the region. The weekend will turn somewhat cooler. No exceptionally cold or warm weather appears likely for the first week of astronomical winter. In terms of precipitation, some rain or snow showers are possible on Tuesday. The closing week of December could experience periodic warmer and cooler days. It now appears that the cooler anomalies will persist mainly in central and northern New England. The probability that December 2025 will have a maximum monthly temperature below 60° has continued to increase. The last time that happened was in 2019 when the monthly high was 58°. If 2025 has a monthly high below 60°, that would be only the fifth such occurrence since 2000 (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2019 are the cases since 2000). The ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly was -0.3°C and the Region 3.4 anomaly was -0.7°C for the week centered around December 10. For the past six weeks, the ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly has averaged -0.33°C and the ENSO Region 3.4 anomaly has averaged -0.67°C. La Niña conditions will likely continue through at least mid-winter. The SOI was -1.19 today. The preliminary Arctic Oscillation (AO) was +2.327 today. Based on sensitivity analysis applied to the latest guidance, there is an implied near 98% probability that New York City will have a cooler than normal December (1991-2020 normal). December will likely finish with a mean temperature near 34.3° (4.8° below normal). Supplemental Information: The projected mean would be 3.1° below the 1981-2010 normal monthly value.

In addition to high winds and heavy rainfall, today was a day of record temperatures in many parts of the Northeast.