Heavy Snow in New York, January 26 to 27, 2011

Name: Heavy Snow in New York, January 26 to 27, 2011
Start: 2011-01-26T07:30
End: 2011-01-27T08:00
Location: New York

January 26 to 27, 2011 · NWS OKX · 17 events in 17 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.

A period of moderate to heavy snow overspread the region Wednesday morning into Wednesday afternoon on January 26th in response to a subtropical moisture feed ahead of a Mid Atlantic low pressure system. This bout of snow produced 2 to 5 inches across the region. The snow tapered to a light wintry mix late Wednesday afternoon into early evening, before a second heavier round of precipitation with convection worked into the region Wednesday evening. This was in response to a strong upper level disturbance working towards the region and rapidly intensifying coastal low pressure southeast of the region throwing moisture back over the area. A very heavy snow band developed over the NYC Metro, Southern and Eastern Portions of the Lower Hudson Valley and Northern and Western Long Island Wednesday evening, which gradually moved northeast late Wednesday night. This band was responsible for snowfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour over a 4 to 6 hr period, raising snow totals to 15-20 inches across much of the region. Lower snowfall amounts of 8-12 inches were experienced over Eastern Long Island due to sleet mixing in with the snow for a time Wednesday night.

Over 19 inches of snow accumulated in Central Park. Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared a weather emergency for New York City. Bloomberg announced the closure of all non-emergency city government offices and New York City Schools were closed. The storm broke New York’s record for January snowfall. A total of 36 inches had fallen in Central Park this month compared with 27.4 inches in 1925.

Snow accumulations caused massive transportation delays including over a thousand airline cancellations at all of the major New York airports. John F. Kennedy International airport was closed until 10:30 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Amtrak suspended its passenger rail service from New York to Boston and cut service between New York and Albany.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS New York, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 26, 7:08 AM EST, 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 26, 7:08 AM EST, 22 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 26, 5:38 AM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
538 AM EST WED JAN 26 2011

NYZ078-079-081-177-271100-
NORTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-NORTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-
NORTHERN NASSAU-
538 AM EST WED JAN 26 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM
EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

IN ADDITION...COASTAL BEACH EROSION REMAINS A CONCERN. PLEASE
REFER TO THE COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME THAT WOULD MEET
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNING CRITERIA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

&&

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL
WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING
CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN
EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS
WARNING CRITERIA.

CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ069>075-080-176-178-179-271100-
NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX-
NORTHERN NEW LONDON-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD-SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN-
SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX-SOUTHERN NEW LONDON-WESTERN PASSAIC-
EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN-EASTERN BERGEN-WESTERN ESSEX-
EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION-EASTERN UNION-ROCKLAND-
NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER-NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-
RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)-KINGS (BROOKLYN)-SOUTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-
NORTHERN QUEENS-SOUTHERN QUEENS-SOUTHERN NASSAU-
538 AM EST WED JAN 26 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM
EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN
CONNECTICUT...NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME THAT WOULD MEET
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNING CRITERIA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

&&

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL
WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING
CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN
EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS
WARNING CRITERIA.

NYZ067-068-271100-
ORANGE-PUTNAM-
538 AM EST WED JAN 26 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM
EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME THAT WOULD MEET
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNING CRITERIA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

&&

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL
WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING
CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN
EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS
WARNING CRITERIA.

ANZ335-338-345-271100-
LONG ISLAND SOUND WEST OF NEW HAVEN CT/PORT JEFFERSON NY-
NEW YORK HARBOR-
SOUTH SHORE BAYS FROM JONES INLET THROUGH SHINNECOCK BAY-
538 AM EST WED JAN 26 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME THAT WOULD MEET
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNING CRITERIA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

&&

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL
WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING
CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN
EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS
WARNING CRITERIA.

ANZ330-340-350-353-355-271100-
LONG ISLAND SOUND EAST OF NEW HAVEN CT/PORT JEFFERSON NY-
PECONIC AND GARDINERS BAYS-
MORICHES INLET NY TO MONTAUK POINT NY OUT 20 NM-
FIRE ISLAND INLET NY TO MORICHES INLET NY OUT 20 NM-
SANDY HOOK NJ TO FIRE ISLAND INLET NY OUT 20 NM-
538 AM EST WED JAN 26 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST
THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   GALE WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   GALE WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

&&

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL
WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING
CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN
EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS
WARNING CRITERIA.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, New York (Manhattan)

When: January 26, 7:30 AM EST to January 27, 5:00 AM EST
Where: New York (Manhattan) forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.774, -73.970 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Richmond (Staten Is.)

When: January 26, 7:30 AM EST to January 27, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Richmond (Staten Is.) forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.583, -74.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Kings (Brooklyn)

When: January 26, 7:30 AM EST to January 27, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Kings (Brooklyn) forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.634, -73.950 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Queens

When: January 26, 7:30 AM EST to January 27, 5:30 AM EST
Where: Northern Queens forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.658, -73.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Queens

When: January 26, 7:30 AM EST to January 27, 5:30 AM EST
Where: Southern Queens forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.658, -73.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Nassau

When: January 26, 7:30 AM EST to January 27, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Nassau forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.732, -73.585 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Nassau

When: January 26, 7:30 AM EST to January 27, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Nassau forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.732, -73.585 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Bronx

When: January 26, 8:00 AM EST to January 27, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Bronx forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.827, -73.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northwest Suffolk

When: January 26, 8:00 AM EST to January 27, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Northwest Suffolk forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.941, -72.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southwest Suffolk

When: January 26, 8:00 AM EST to January 27, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Southwest Suffolk forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.941, -72.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northeast Suffolk

When: January 26, 8:30 AM EST to January 27, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Northeast Suffolk forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.941, -72.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southeast Suffolk

When: January 26, 8:30 AM EST to January 27, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Southeast Suffolk forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.941, -72.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Mastic Beach woman was struck and killed on Wednesday 1/26 by a pickup truck plowing a Center Moriches bus company parking lot.

Heavy Snow, Southern Westchester

When: January 26, 9:00 AM EST to January 27, 5:30 AM EST
Where: Southern Westchester forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.152, -73.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Rockland

When: January 26, 10:00 AM EST to January 27, 4:30 AM EST
Where: Rockland forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.152, -74.024 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Westchester

When: January 26, 10:00 AM EST to January 27, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Westchester forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.152, -73.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Putnam

When: January 26, 11:00 AM EST to January 27, 4:30 AM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.427, -73.749 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Orange

When: January 26, 2:00 PM EST to January 27, 2:30 AM EST
Where: Orange forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.402, -74.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Heavy Snow, Southeast Suffolk	2011-01-26	64	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New York in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in New York, January 2011

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 281098, 281100, 281101, 281102, 281103, 281104, 281105, 281099, 281106, 281107, 281108, 281109, 281114, 281112, 281113, 281111, 281110.