New York, New York – Snow blanketed the city again and again this winter, and by the close of February, New York City had secured one of its snowiest seasons in more than 150 years of recordkeeping.
According to the U.S. National Weather Service Eastern Region Headquarters, Central Park measured 43.4 inches of snow from December 2025 through February 2026. That makes it the 12th snowiest meteorological winter since records began in 1869. The seasonal total nearly doubled the normal winter snowfall of 23.8 inches.
Temperatures also leaned colder than average. The city’s mean winter temperature came in at 31.9 degrees, below the normal 36.2 degrees. That steady chill helped preserve snowpack across the five boroughs, especially in the Bronx and parts of northern Queens, where shaded streets and sidewalks stayed icy days after each storm.
Across New York State, repeated coastal systems tracked close enough to deliver accumulating snow to the downstate region while hammering interior sections even harder. Several events slowed traffic on the Long Island Expressway, FDR Drive and the New Jersey Turnpike, while commuter rail lines faced weather-related delays.
The late-February “Bombo Genesis” storm intensified offshore and added a final burst of heavy snow and gusty winds, pushing the seasonal total firmly into the top 15 all-time ranking.
With 43.4 inches officially recorded, winter 2025-2026 stands out as a notably wintry season for New York City, and updated climatological summaries are expected as final numbers are certified.
