New York City is bracing for one of its heaviest snowfalls in years on Sunday, with forecasters warning the five boroughs could see up to 10 inches of snow as a powerful coastal storm intensifies into a nor’easter. The system is expected to bring periods of heavy snow, wind gusts over 40 mph and hazardous travel from Sunday morning into Monday, prompting winter storm watches, blizzard alerts and a full‑scale citywide response.
Storm setup: a fast‑deepening nor’easter
Meteorologists say the storm will develop rapidly off the Mid‑Atlantic coast on Sunday, then strengthen into a classic nor’easter as it tracks northward along the Eastern Seaboard. Cold air pouring into the region behind a milder Saturday will help change any mixed precipitation to all snow for much of the metro area by Sunday afternoon and evening.
CBS New York’s First Alert Weather Team describes “a developing coastal storm” that will tap Atlantic moisture and interact with Arctic air to produce heavy bands of snow, with the potential for 1 to 2 inches per hour at the height of the event. Blizzard‑like conditions are possible where those bands line up with stronger winds, especially closer to the coast and across Long Island.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch covering New York City and surrounding areas from Sunday into Monday, warning of “substantial to major accumulations” and blowing snow that could make travel “very difficult to impossible.” Syracuse.com reports that separate blizzard warnings have been posted for New York City and Long Island, reflecting confidence in strong winds and low visibility along the coast.
How much snow: up to 10 inches in the city, more to the east
Forecast totals have been trending higher as confidence grows in a colder, closer‑in coastal track.
- CBS New York’s latest projections call for 6 to 10 inches in New York City, with 10 to 15 inches possible on Long Island and parts of coastal New Jersey, and 4 to 8 inches north and west of the city.
- ABC7 now expects 8 to 12 inches across NYC, much of New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley and Connecticut, with “12+ inches along the Jersey Shore and most of Long Island” and 4 to 8 inches farther inland.
- NorthJersey.com, citing National Weather Service guidance, says the metro area could see about 9 inches in the city and up to a foot at the far reaches of Long Island under the current scenario.
- Gothamist reports that updated forecasts “now warn up to 10 inches of snow expected for Sunday into Monday” in New York City and nearby suburbs, with light snow potentially starting Sunday morning and not tapering completely until Monday.
A winter storm watch advisory to Columbia University staff likewise flags the potential for 6 to 10 inches of accumulation in the city and wind gusts “as high as 40 mph,” urging the campus community to prepare for “very difficult travel.” Local alerts shared by Rockland County officials note similar expected totals of 6 to 10 inches across the lower Hudson Valley.
While some higher‑end computer models still show the possibility of 14 inches or more along the immediate coast, forecasters stress that those are worst‑case scenarios and that a modest shift in the storm’s track could mean slightly lower or higher totals in the five boroughs.
Timing: when the worst conditions hit
The consensus among local outlets points to a storm that will build through Sunday and peak Sunday night into Monday morning.
CBS New York outlines the timeline this way:
- Sunday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Snow develops south of the city and spreads northward, starting light to moderate; some coastal locations may begin as rain or a mix before changing to snow.
- Sunday 1 p.m. to Monday 10 a.m.: The low deepens into a nor’easter as it moves up the coast. Any rain changes to snow across the region, with very heavy snow at times, rates of 1–2 inches per hour, and winds increasing to 30–50 mph near the coast.
- Monday 10 a.m. to early afternoon: Snow gradually tapers from west to east, but lingering bands may keep conditions slick into midday before the storm fully pulls away.
ABC7 similarly warns that the heaviest snow will arrive Sunday night through early Monday, with “periods of intense snowfall, reduced visibility, and wind gusts over 40 mph,” making travel “very difficult to dangerous” during that window. The National Weather Service watch runs through Monday, reflecting concerns about both the overnight peak and impacts on the Monday morning commute.
Wind, coastal flooding, and power outage risks
Beyond snowfall totals, forecasters are emphasizing the storm’s wind and coastal impacts.
- Along the coast and across Long Island, gusts could reach 40 to 55 mph, strong enough to produce blowing and drifting snow, downed tree limbs and scattered power outages.
- PSEG Long Island says it is preparing for the storm with additional crews and equipment, warning that winds on the East End may be “strong enough to potentially topple trees, bring down branches on wires and cause outages.”
- CBS New York and Syracuse.com both highlight a risk of minor to moderate coastal flooding, particularly during Sunday night and Monday high‑tide cycles, along with dune erosion and possible overwash at vulnerable oceanfront locations.
Utility and emergency managers are urging residents in low‑lying shoreline communities to monitor tide forecasts closely, move vehicles to higher ground where possible and be ready for localized street flooding in addition to snow‑related disruptions.
City preparations: plows, transit, and Code Blue
City agencies have begun shifting into full storm response mode as the forecast has solidified.
- CBS New York reports that Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered pre‑snow operations to start Saturday, with plows mounted, salt spreaders loaded, and sanitation workers scheduled for 12‑hour shifts on Sunday.
- New York City Emergency Management is urging residents to use mass transit, allow extra travel time and exercise caution when walking, biking, or driving on snow‑covered streets.
- A Code Blue will be in effect, triggering 24/7 outreach across all five boroughs to move unsheltered New Yorkers into warming centers and emergency shelter as temperatures drop and snowfall intensifies.
Columbia University and other major institutions have circulated internal bulletins warning of 6 to 10 inches of snow, winds up to 40 mph and “very difficult travel,” and advising staff to charge devices, stock essential supplies and watch for possible schedule changes.
Transit agencies have not yet announced large‑scale shutdowns, but officials warn that heavy snow rates and reduced visibility could slow buses and above‑ground trains, particularly on Sunday night and Monday morning.
What New Yorkers should do now
With forecast confidence growing and the heaviest impacts still about a day away, officials and forecasters are urging residents to use the remaining time to prepare.
- Limit non‑essential travel from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, when conditions are expected to be at their worst.
- Stock up on basics, food, medications, batteries, and charge phones and power banks ahead of potential outages.
- Move cars off snow routes and away from flood‑prone streets; follow sanitation and parking guidance to keep plow paths clear.
- Check on neighbors, seniors, and people with disabilities, especially once snow and wind make getting around more difficult.
Forecasts will continue to update as computer models refine the storm track. But with winter storm watches upgraded to blizzard warnings in parts of the region and multiple outlets now converging on 6 to 10 inches of snow for New York City, officials say the message is clear: the city is in for a long, disruptive bout of wintry weather to close out the weekend.