N.Y. weather: What does outlook show for temperatures, snow for end of January?

New York’s Staten Island. New York City has undoubtedly had a chilly start to 2025. This time of year, frigid temperatures are to be expected, but the cold has exceeded expectations.

Sadly, those hoping for warm weather will not get their wish. Below-normal temperatures are expected to continue until the end of January, according to forecasts just released by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center for the second half of the month.

Due to a break in the polar vortex, New York City was surrounded by an Arctic blast of cold air that was leaking south from the North Pole as of Thursday afternoon. The five boroughs have been engulfed in freezing temperatures over the past few days.

According to the Advance/SILive.com weather station, daily highs on Staten Island have often been in the low 20s and lows have been about 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the freezing point of water. For example, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data from 1991 to 2020, the Central Park region typically experiences average highs of about 39 degrees and lows of about 28 degrees during this same time period.

Looking ahead, the weather service has stated that temperatures will approximate more seasonable circumstances, with anticipated highs and lows expected to come in around the average going into the weekend. New York City residents are not yet out of the woods, though.

The temperature prognosis for January 18–31 indicates that there is a 50–55% chance of below-normal temperatures in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley. In contrast, there is a 50–60% chance that temperatures in a large portion of northern New York will be above average for the month.

Both above- and below-average temperatures are equally likely to occur in regions that do not fit into either group, which includes a large portion of Central New York.

The precipitation outlook

The Climate Prediction Center released a precipitation prognosis in addition to the temperature forecast.

New York City is predicted to see “above normal” precipitation amounts between January 18 and January 31, 2025, according to a projection from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. (Source: Climate Prediction Center, National Weather Service)(Source: National Weather Service)

The entire state of New York has a good chance of seeing more precipitation than usual between January 18 and January 31.

There is a 55–60% chance that most of downstate New York, including the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and New York City, will have above-normal precipitation levels during this time. According to the Climate Prediction Center prediction, those to the north and west have a 50–55% chance of experiencing such conditions.

According to NOAA statistics from 1991 to 2020, the Central Park region typically receives 3.64 inches of precipitation each month.

The five boroughs might receive some snowfall if any of the precipitation moves through New York City during the period of below-normal temperatures predicted.