Welcome to 2024 and welcome to January! This is a month that can be snowy. Here’s a look back at NYC's biggest January snowstorms.

The biggest January snowstorm to hit NYC happened just a few years ago, on Jan. 24-26, 2016. 27.5 inches of snow buried NYC.

Streets in boroughs like Queens remained under feet of snow for several days as the city scrambled to clean up the mess.

The city’s response to the big storm outraged many city residents, blaming the mayor and the Department of Sanitation for the delay in getting roads cleared.

Here's a fun fact. At the time, the storm measured at 26.8 inches of snow, making it the second-biggest storm on record for NYC. But a few months later, the number was revised to 27.5 inches, making it the biggest snowstorm on record.

For a long time, the most dramatic storm to hit the city was the Blizzard of 1996. Although this storm didn't drop the most snow for a single storm, it did bring wind gusts to 50 mph with snowfall rates of 2 inches per hour.

The wind caused snowdrifts that reached as high as 8 feet.

Schools were closed for the blizzard, and that was a big deal! Before the blizzard of '96, the last time schools were closed due to weather was in 1978. We were apparently tougher in dealing with the weather back then. 

When we look at the five biggest snowstorms to hit NYC in January, something interesting becomes apparent. A warming climate does not mean less snow.

Weather records in the city date back to 1869. But, four of the five biggest snowstorms in January have occurred in the last 25 years.

The reason for this is that a warming climate means more moisture and stronger storms. Yes, more of these storms are likely to bring rain rather than snow, but when all the ingredients align, the snowstorms can make history.  

Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.