Measurable snowfall had become a rarity in New York City the past few years. Blizzards? Not even in the picture. That has since changed, or at least is on the verge of doing so. The NYC area is bracing for a powerful nor’easter that promises to deliver a foot or more of snow throughout the regi on. Parts of Long Island and the Jersey Shore could get two feet. A blizzard warning was issued for the five boroughs from Sunday night in Monday, with the worst of the storm set to hit during the overnight hours. It’s been a while since such a warning has been issued for NYC. The last one that went into effect was in 2017, though that storm wasn’t nearly as bad as one a year prior that dumped more than 27 inches on the city. But what constitutes a blizzard warning? What is necessary for it to be issued? Essentially, it comes down to three elements. Interestingly, projected snowfall totals have nothing to do with it. The three criteria are: Sustained 35 mph winds Visibility at 1/4 of a mile or less from blowing snow Those conditions must persist for at least three hours So while, yes, snow is necessary, a blizzard warning doesn’t necessarily mean there will be high snowfall totals. But in this case, significant totals are coming anyway. If forecasts hold up and a foot of snow falls, it would be the first time since Feb. 2021 that Central Park got a foot or more of snow. The sheer impact of the snow isn’t the only part of interest — the timing is very out of the ordinary as well, according to the National Weather Service. Going back more than 150 years, there have only been three times since the 1860s that 18 or more inches of snow has fallen from a single storm this late in the season: in March 1888, March 1941, and late Feb. 2010. ...read more read less