How likely is New York City to break its 700 day snow drought?

New York City has a “pretty good shot” of reaching an inch of snow in Central Park Tuesday to end its historical powder drought as Big Apple residents cheered the season’s first real winter storm. Flakes were falling across the five boroughs Monday night into Tuesday morning with a dusting covering sidewalks and cars, but not quite sticking to the streets.

Still, New Yorkers couldn’t contain their childlike excitement for a rare glimpse of snowfall. “Real snow. In NYC. It’s happening,” one user on X posted. “The snow has arrived in NYC!” Fox Weather Meteorologist Jason Frazer exclaimed. “THERE IS SNOW IN NYC” another X user posted. Before the worst of the storm arrived, Upper West Side resident Jane Deckoff said she was “hoping for a great, big snow” to play in, according to CBS 2.

Another New Yorker said he hopes there’s enough of the white stuff to dust off the toboggans. “My kids are excited, they want to sled,” Washington Heights resident Michael Schedler told the station. “Hasn’t been really snowing a lot.” While the snow accumulation wasn’t much just after midnight Tuesday, the winter storm is expected to bring a stronger punch into the morning.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde said it’s a safe bet that at least an inch of snow will accumulate in New York City to snap its 701 day snowless streak. “Pretty good shot unless something really unexpected happens. I can’t see how it’s gonna miss this time,” Rinde told The Post.

Rinde said the city is still only expected to get an inch or two of snow with places outside of the Big Apple getting possibly three or four inches of powder. The last time New York City saw an inch or more of snow was on Jan. 29, 2022. After the snow comes, sleet or rain might shower the city as temperatures reach just above freezing for a short time, the meteorologist added, noting the city has come close to reaching an inch of snow over the last two years leading up to this week.

In anticipation of the messy weather, the city suspended alternate side parking for Tuesday. But city kids shouldn’t get their hopes up — school is expected to go on as scheduled. The city’s sanitation department said thousands of workers were ready to plow every inch of Gotham if needed. New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol told CBS 2 that at least two inches of snow must hit the streets for the plows to come out.

In the meantime, DSNY deployed 800 salt spreaders to keep roadways clear and prevent a slippery mess..