NYC sees first white Christmas Eve in over two decades — but it won’t last

Keep dreaming about that white Christmas, New York.

The Big Apple was blanketed in a light layer of snow Tuesday morning, marking the first time in more than two decades there has been snow on Christmas Eve — but it won’t last.

The sun is expected to break out for the festivities on Wednesday and bring in warmer temperatures, meaning the sprinkles of snow will mostly melt before dinner hits the table.

Snow dropped on New York City for the first Christmas Eve in 26 years. Gabriella Bass

“We hope you enjoyed it while it was here this morning,” FOX Weather meteorologist Stephanie van Oppen told The Post.

One inch of snow was logged at Central Park Tuesday morning — the most that has fallen in the Big Apple on Christmas Eve since two inches dropped in 1998, van Oppen noted.

The snow clouds quickly moved through the I-95 corridor and were pushed offshore before noon, taking with it any chance of snow falling on Christmas Day.

Wednesday is forecasted to be sunny with a high of 35 degrees, meaning that an overnight dip into the high 20s won’t be enough to save the snow from melting away on the holiday.

Temperatures are expected to rise to the 40s for the remainder of the week, with van Oppen forecasting that the chances of the Big Apple seeing snow for the remainder of the calendar year remain slim — but a snowless Christmas has become something New Yorkers are accustomed to.

One inch of snow was recorded in Central Park Tuesday. G.N.Miller/NYPost

The metro area saw a light dusting on Christmas Day 2017, but the last time there was measurable snow for the holiday was in 2002, when 5 inches was dropped on the city.

New Yorkers, however, were more than happy with the sprinkles that landed this year.

“It’s more than we have had for so long — which is nothing!” Meagan Finn, 26, told The Post. “It’s not as much as I would have liked, but I’ll take it, I’ll enjoy it.”

Meteorologists don’t expect any more snowfall for the remainder of 2024. G.N.Miller/NYPost

Social worker Susan Ginsberg shared the same sentiment, noting that she would have much preferred a blizzard: “But I’ll take anything, I’ll take this over nothing.”

“It’s just peaceful and playful, and the fact that it is Christmas and people are with their families, it’s just hearkens back to family and childhood,” Ginsberg continued.

“Every year, we hope that it will snow and it just hasn’t happened, but this year it was lovely to walk outside and see the snow on the ground.”

Christmas is forecasted to be sunny with a high of 35. Billy Becerra / NY Post

Julian Gonsalves, 67, was reminded of the iconic holiday song, “I’m Dreaming of a white Christmas” upon waking up this morning, adding that his dream has come true after so many years. 

“Without snow, there is no Christmas. It’s a boring Christmas because snow is what makes Christmas,” the security guard said.

“Forget about the food — It makes me feel like this is the true Christmas. This is what Christmas is about.”

Jim Thornton and Emma Sherston of the UK nearly missed the rare snowfall — the couple extended their trip to the Big Apple because Thorton had a strong feeling the flakes would come for the holiday.

“We’re really excited about a white Christmas, really excited! We are from the UK and this is the first white Christmas we’ve had in about 20 years. We don’t usually get snow until January or February, if we get snow at all. Usually, we just get rain and cloud,” Thorton said.

“I think it just makes it feel like a more traditional Christmas than a cold grey day. I associate snow with Christmas, traditionally. We just don’t normally have it but we think about it.”

The couple joked that they brought the snow to the city, with Sherston adding that seeing the white fluff brings “childish excitement.”

“To wake up and it’s white outside, so different. It’s exciting, whatever age you are. It’s that childish excitement.”