New York City breaks 700-day snow drought as climate change alters weather patterns
New York City, after an unprecedented 700-day hiatus, saw its first measurable snowfall on January 16, ending a historic period without substantial snow. Central Park, a significant location in the city, reported a layer of snow, breaking the previous record of 400 days without considerable snowfall set in 1998, according to The New York Times.
This exceptional absence of snow began after Central Park recorded 1.6 inches of snow on February 13, 2022. The National Weather Service confirmed an inch of snowfall at Central Park since midnight, with a total of 1.4 inches since the storm's onset on Monday.
With 8.5 million residents, New York City had not witnessed notable snow since early 2022. In contrast, other parts of New York state, like Buffalo, regularly contend with more severe snow conditions. During Christmas 2022, northern and western New York faced over four feet of snow, resulting in numerous fatalities, highlighting the changing weather patterns influenced by climate change, as reported by AFP.
The variance in snowfall patterns across New York state underscores the evolving nature of weather events. Residents in various city parts, including Brooklyn, engaged in clearing sidewalks post a long weekend, causing minor disruptions in public transport and school closures in the northern suburbs. Meteorologist James Tomasini emphasized the significance of this event, drawing parallels to the previous record-holding snowless streak ending in March 1998.
Meanwhile, in India, the 40-day intense winter known as «Chilla-i-Kalan» in Kashmir, traditionally characterized by heavy snowfall, has seen an unusual absence of snow. Most of Kashmir's plains, including
