This article was originally published on January 26, 2015.Jonas is upon us, causing most of the East Coast to cozy down in bed with Netflix and hot chocolate for the weekend.
While we've yet to see anything approaching the promised Worst Snowstorm In History, we have been dealing with some totally extreme weather conditions here in New York City, with travel conditions so bad that the NYPD is threatening to arrest anyone who tries to get on the road during the storm.
And now, yet another winter storm is sweeping through NYC. The city has been warned to expect blizzard conditions all of Saturday, lasting until 7 a.m. Sunday morning, with a foot of snow expected to fall in the city over the weekend. That includes dangerous winds, so really: stay inside!
But before you start feeling too sorry for yourself, we suggest you take a look at the five most ridiculous blizzards to ever hit the city. This storm might be tiny in comparison, but we hope you're taking all the precautions necessary to stay warm and safe. And, whatever you do, please avoid "snow madness" at all costs.
March 1888
Known simply as "The Blizzard," this storm saw temperatures hit below zero as more than 20 inches of snow and 85-mile-per-hour winds struck the city over a two-day period. Public transportation came to a halt (75 trains were stuck with people trapped inside), lodging prices increased for those looking for a place to stay, and more than 200 deaths were catalogued.
Fulton Street, 1888
Brooklyn Bridge, 1888
January 1996
20.2 inches were recorded in Central Park after two long, snowy days, with winds reaching 50 miles per hour. Schools and businesses were closed, transportation was shut down, flights were canceled, and power went out all across the city. Plus, the nor'easter caused around $3 billion in damages along the East Coast.
Times Square, 1996
57th Street, 1996
February 2003
Just imagine what a five-day blizzard feels like. It's cold. And, windy. And, really, really snowy. The President's Day Snowstorm saw 19.8 inches of snow in the city and a whopping 25.6 inches at JFK Airport (in other words, all flights canceled). The cleanup cost an estimated $1 million per inch, according to then-mayor Michael Bloomberg.
9th Street, 2003
Brooklyn Heights, 2003
January 2006
The blizzard of '06 was the biggest, most destructive storm since record-keeping began in 1869, dropping 26.9 inches across New York City. Although not technically a blizzard due to its low wind speeds, it left the city with canceled rail services and flights. This storm alone accounted for two-thirds of the total snowfall that winter.
Lexington Avenue, 2006
Greenpoint, 2006
February 2010
Snowmageddon (a.k.a., Snowpocalypse) was one of the most notorious storms of the past decade, leaving not just New York City but a majority of the East Coast buried under fluffy, white (and really cold and wet) blankets. Two consecutive storms struck the tri-state area within five days, dumping over 20 inches of snow. It was a monster, especially for places like Washington D.C., which had never experienced such conditions.
Central Park, 2010
Brooklyn, 2010
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