New York greets the day with crisp air and thin clouds drifting above Manhattan as early sun glints off damp sidewalks. The calm won’t last long: a developing December Weather Alert is drawing closer, and commuters across New York City should prepare for changing conditions that may influence Tuesday travel across the boroughs.
According to the National Weather Service, steadier rain arrives today with highs in the upper 40s. Winds strengthen later, and pavement may stay damp into Monday morning. Monday turns brighter, but that lull marks the early sign of a stronger coastal system expected to build Tuesday. Meteorologists now track a rain-to-snow mix potential for NYC, especially from late morning into evening as colder air filters south.
Models hint at quick bursts of wet snow, mainly north and west of the city, though a slushy coating cannot be ruled out in parts of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens if temperatures dip closer to the mid-30s at peak precipitation. Expect slower travel on I-278, FDR Drive, and approaches to the George Washington Bridge during heavier bands. Keep coats, gloves, and umbrellas ready; conditions may shift fast.
To be fair, confidence remains low for significant accumulation along the immediate coast. Still, Tuesday’s system brings a classic “winter tease,” the type that signals the early-season pattern shift New Yorkers often feel just before December’s first true cold snap. Once the system exits, colder and brighter weather will settle in midweek.
Five-Day Outlook
Today: Rain likely; highs near 48.
Monday: Sunny, highs near 41; colder breeze.
Tuesday: Rain/snow mix then rain; travel delays possible.
Wednesday: Sunny, highs near 39.
Thursday: Partly sunny, highs near 41.
