Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Not A White Christmas, But That's NYC


By

Jen Chung

Published Dec 25, 2009

Modified Dec 25, 2009


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Photograph of a snow lizard emerging from the street by katieknitsny on Flickr

 


By

Jen Chung

Published Dec 25, 2009

Modified Dec 25, 2009


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

The NY Times wonders if the snow left from last weekend's snow storm makes this a white Christmas. Of course there is debate.

One Midtown shopper said, "It’s an off-white Christmas. I’d qualify this snow. Christmas is all about spirit, not about technicalities," while another person argued that it needs to actually snow for it to be a white Christmas. Fun fact: "The National Climatic Data Center defines a white Christmas as a snow depth of at least one inch on Christmas. The last time that amount of remnant snow graced the city streets on Christmas morning was in 1998, and the last time that a fresh snowfall on Christmas Day met the minimum was in 2002. The snow depth reported at Central Park on Thursday morning was four inches."

Still, Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said, “It’s not white in many places right now. Last Sunday morning it was beautiful and pristine snow that everyone wanted to go outside and play in, including myself. But as the week goes on, it gets a little tarnished." Yeah, especially if "tarnished" means not just gray and icky from vehicles but also golden and brown from dogs and probably humans.

Tagged

gray christmas

slush

snow

weather

white christmas

winter storm

yellow snow


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

NYPD searching for suspect after fatal stabbing in Queens

Officers responding to a call at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 173rd Street around 1 a.m. found 29-year-old Sulimon Ferrier, who had multiple stab wounds to his chest, police said.

By

Ben Feuerherd

Published Oct 3, 2026 at 4:38 p.m. ET


NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim

It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.

By

Jill Webb

News

NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim

It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.

By

Jill Webb


Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues

By

Catalina Gonella

US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ

By

Willow Higgins

A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season

By

Rosemary Misdary


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .