New York City and Philadelphia continue to add to their records of days without snow — as some locations on the East Coast have gone almost two years without significant accumulation.
The lack of snow has led to rising temperatures during the winter months in many regions.
New York City has not received a full inch of snow in 652 days after Central Park was covered with 1.5 inches on February 13, 2022.
More snow hit the city on March 9, 2022, but yielded only 0.4 inches, the data shows. The last time the Big Apple went this long without more than an inch of snow was in 1869.
It's been almost 22 months since Philadelphia saw an inch of snowfall, which has now become the city's largest on record.
The City of Brotherly Love showed just how warm it was in the winter of January as Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrated their NFC Championship win as they paraded shirtless through the streets.
New York City and Philadelphia continue to expand their records for days without snow — as some locations on the East Coast have gone almost two years without significant accumulation
It's been almost 22 months since Philadelphia saw an inch of snowfall, which has now become the city's largest on record
Boston and Pittsburgh also haven't recorded more than two inches of snow in nearly two years.
Washington, D.C., has also joined the snow draw, as it hasn't recorded an inch or more of snow there in 625 days.
According to The Washington PostBoston nearly tied its most recent snowless streak at 668 days. In December 2012, the drought reached 672 days without mounds of fresh powder.
New York City's latest record breaks the 269-day streak that stretched from 1997 to 1998.
While cities have experienced a severe drought, other places have had it even worse, experiencing unusually long periods without at least 3 inches of snow.
Elkins, West Virginia, has gone 625 days, Islip, New York, has gone 652 days, and Allentown, Pennsylvania, has gone 625 days without two inches of snow.
The City of Brotherly Love showed off just how warm it was in the winter of January as Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrated their NFC Championship win as they paraded shirtless through the streets
New York City has not received a full inch of snow in 652 days after Central Park was covered with 1.5 inches on February 13, 2022. Pictured: People enjoying the warm weather in Central Park on February 15, 2023
On January 7, 2023, the National Weather Service New York provided an update on the lack of snow.
'So far this winter we have not seen much snowfall in the area and this is lower than normal and a lot lower compared to the same time last year. Central Park, NY and Kennedy, NY have had only trace amounts of snow so far this winter season,” the agency said.
At the time, the city appeared to be more than two weeks behind. Last year, December 23, 2022, Central Park recorded its first measurable snowfall — although it was only 0.2 inches, experts say.
On January 29, 2022, New York City was hit by a severe winter storm and snowstorm. The storm brought winds of 25 to 35 km per hour and gusts of almost 50 km per hour.
According to the National Weather Service, 9 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park at the time; 9 inches of snow had fallen at LaGuardia Airport and 4 inches of snow was reported at JFK Airport. The heaviest amounts of snow hit southern and central Queens, NY1 News reported.
Three of the past four winters in Washington, D.C. have brought below average snow amounts, while Philadelphia, New York and Boston have had below average snow amounts over the past four to five winters.
New Yorkers were hit by a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, when a powerful Nor'Easter brought blinding snowstorms with high winds
Snowfall on Brooklyn's Dumbo in New York City as a massive snowstorm hits the East Coast on January 29, 2022
While the snowless streak has become the new normal, there is a glimmer of hope that it could break this winter.
“The increased snow prospects stem from the ongoing El Nino climate pattern, which tends to increase winter moisture in the South and Mid-Atlantic,” the Washington Post reported.
Some of the snowiest winters in the Mid-Atlantic region have occurred during El-Nino years, which has a cooling effect on temperatures.
This year is El-Nino season, which could mean an end to the long drought.