[New York Diary] Snow Has Finally Fallen

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Finally, snow has fallen in Manhattan, New York. On February 1 (local time), local New York media outlets unanimously reported that snow had "finally" fallen at an observable level. Some might say, what's the big deal about snow falling in a place that isn't even a hot country? However, the historic 'snow drought'?where no snow was seen across all five boroughs of New York City even after the start of the cold winter?ended on this day.

Snow has accumulated in the Queens area of New York on the morning of February 1st.

The National Weather Service in New York announced, "The wait is over," stating that about 0.4 inches of snow had accumulated in Central Park at 6 a.m. that day. Fox News reported, "We finally got to see snow in New York City," adding, "The 328-day snow drought is over."

If it had been delayed just a few more days, it would have broken the record for the longest snow drought (332 days in 2020). Just a few days ago, New York City had also broken the record for the latest first snowfall ever recorded. The previous record was January 29, 1973, 50 years ago, when snow fell after 322 days. However, this year’s snowfall was even later. Typically, the first snow in New York City falls around mid-December, near Christmas.

Mr. Heath, a man in his 30s from the warm southern state of Louisiana, said, "It was nice that my commute was less cold," but shook his head, saying, "New York winters are known for a white Christmas and snow-covered Central Park, but this year was really strange." Mr. Um Chanyeong, a Korean international student living in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, said, "I even posted photos in a group chat with my classmates, saying that it’s the first time in 50 years that snow has come this late." Meteorologists consider snowfall measurable only when at least 0.1 inches of snow falls.

This is a starkly different scene compared to just one year ago in Manhattan. When I arrived in New York last January, my biggest regret was not preparing warmer shoes. I clearly remember going to buy thick winter boots that wouldn’t get wet from the snow. It was difficult to even walk on the piled-up snowdrifts. At the end of January, when a 12-inch snowfall was forecast, I doubted whether it was actually 12 cm and ended up stuck at home.

The reason New York City did not see snow for such a long time this winter was due to warmer-than-average weather. January this year was the warmest since related statistics began in 1869. The average temperature was well above normal for all 31 days. On the other hand, there was frequent rain. From December last year to mid-January, precipitation in Central Park exceeded the average by 1.70 inches. Not only New York City but also eastern regions such as Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore experienced a warmer January with rain instead of snow.

Locals have expressed concerns that this could be due to global warming and abnormal weather patterns. NBC New York cited climate change and La Ni?a as the background for this year’s snow drought in New York. MarketWatch also pointed out, "The prolonged lack of snow in New York City and the sudden heavy snow and blizzards in Buffalo, northern New York State, are important signals of changing winter patterns," adding, "Extreme weather events like Buffalo’s sudden heavy snow may become more frequent or intense due to climate change." Both Mr. Heath and Mr. Chanyeong expressed concerns at the end of their interviews, saying, "Isn’t this all due to the effects of climate change?"

The 2004 disaster film Tomorrow, which warned of the dangers of climate change, is set in New York City. Watching recent reports of climate disasters such as droughts in Europe and massive floods in Pakistan, it becomes clear that the climate catastrophe, once thought to be just a story in a movie or a distant future event, is actually not far away. This is why local media warnings asking, "Can we simply classify the lack of snow in New York City as a routine weather phenomenon?" cannot be ignored. Even at this moment, the golden time to address the climate crisis is slipping away.