We have just finished up a beautiful stretch of weather including our first 70 degree day of the year. But the weather in March can change at the flip of a switch. And more often than not, that switch results in March snow.

What You Need To Know

  • Average March snowfall in NYC is 3.9 inches

  • NYC has recorded measurable snow 9 out of the last 10 years in March

  • The biggest March snowstorm in NYC was in 21 inches in 1888

  • Winter weather is possible in NYC next week.

On the air, I often describe the weather patterns in late winter and early spring as the two seasons battling one another.

Strong storm systems in March often cause dramatic changes in the weather in a matter of days. Sometimes you're lucky enough to find yourself on the warm side of that story. But, other times, you can just as easily find yourself on the cold and snowy side of that scenario.

While looking back, I found that March snowstorms have been very common in recent years. Our minds have a clever way of forgetting these things, but it has snowed for 9 of the last 10 years in March.

The biggest snowstorm to happen in NYC during the month of March was a long time ago. It's the famous blizzard known as the blizzard of 1888. From March 12 to 14 that year, NYC saw 21 inches of snow.

Although not as impressive, there have been some respectable snowfalls in recent years during the month of March. March 2020 aside, every year since March 2015 has recorded measurable snow.

Most of those recent years it has been a lot of it compared to the 30 year average. Average March snowfall for NYC is 3.9 inches.

In just one snowstorm on March 5, 2015, we exceed that with a 7.5 inch snowstorm. We did nearly the same on March 14, 2017. And impressively, into the start of spring, it snowed 8.4 inches on March 21-22, 2018.

I should also point out that in the case of 2017, there was a 70 degree day that month and there were a few days in the 60s in March 2018. So it goes to show that even though the weather might seem very warm one week, it can change quickly the next week during the month of March.

Which brings me to this last point, which some of you will love and others will dread. Our models show the chance for a wintry mix or snow in the week leading up to St. Patrick's Day. There are one, possibly two opportunities for wintry weather. Stay tuned, as we know, it has happened before.