Winter Weather Could Hit NYC Next Month As Harsh Season Forecast

NEW YORK CITY – It's just the beginning of the beautiful stretch of early fall, but New Yorkers are being warned to prepare their heavy winter coats – snow and cold is only weeks away this year, forecasters predict.

The first blast of wintry weather could hit the city in November, according to AccuWeather. And it'll herald a winter season that's expected to be harsh.

The meteorologists have released their 2021 winter weather forecast, and it makes for bleak reading.

"The first waves of cold air are anticipated to chill the Northeast in November," AccuWeather said. Though the worst of the early freeze is expected to be further inland, New York City is not expected to escape.

"Areas closer to the coast, such as Boston, New York City and the rest of the Interstate-95 corridor, could also get the chance of early-season cold and snow, but it is not predicted to be as cold or as snowy as across areas farther inland."

After the early dip in temperatures, winter could pound the Northeast with a vengeance starting in mid-December before potentially intensifying in January, which could include a heightened risk for nor'easters and snowstorms at the tail end of the season.

Nationally, AccuWeather predicts a winter similar to the 2020-21 season, which brought heavy snowfall to some parts of the country. Records show New York City saw 38.6 inches of snow last year, more than 12 inches higher than the average.

The official start of the meteorological winter is on Dec. 1.