Currently — January 30th, 2023

January 29, 2023

What you need to know, currently.

New York, Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia’s snowless streak continues, as much of the mid-Atlantic faces a historic “snow drought.”

New York and other major cities along the I-95 corridor are experiencing one of their least snowy seasons in the last five decades. The region has been warmer than usual, due to La Niña, which is now going on its third consecutive year.

Despite a few snow flurries on Wednesday, New York’s Central park hasn’t had a measurable snowfall, which starts at a tenth of an inch. This means that the city, which averages just about 30 inches of snow each winter, is on track to beat its record of the latest first snowfall, which is set at Jan. 29. Similarly, Philadelphia is one week away from tying its February 3 all-time record

Due to human-induced climate change and urbanization, the first recorded measurable snowfall of the season has been happening further back each winter. Without snow gathering on the ground, areas that usually get adequate snowfall throughout winter are left without a snowpack or a layer of snow that typically provides fresh water to the ground and rivers as it melts in the spring and summer.

As of today, the snow deficit across the region is set to continue.

—Aarohi Sheth

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