Overview
- Central Park recorded more than 19 inches of snow, with parts of the tri-state area reporting totals near 30 inches.
- States of emergency were in effect for New York City and New Jersey as airports closed and roads became impassable.
- Videos widely shared on social media showed multiple lightning bolts hitting One World Trade Center during heavy snowfall.
- NOAA explains that thundersnow forms when strong upward motion and abundant moisture interact in freezing air.
- AccuWeather’s Tom Kines called the event unusual but not unprecedented and experts cautioned that winter lightning carries typical thunderstorm hazards.