NYC is experiencing its fourth longest snow drought on record but first flurry expected next week

New York will finally be hit by a flurry of snow next week after undergoing its fourth longest drought on record. 

The Big Apple has been without measurable snowfall - which is categorized as 0.1 inches or more - for 313 days as of this week. 

The longest period without snow in the city's history lasted 332 days, ending on December 15, 2020.

Meanwhile the second-longest snowless streak was 322 days ending in 1973 and the third was 319, ending in 2002.

New York finally set to see around two inches of snow next week after fourth-longest drought on record

New York has been unusually dry this winter, compared to other years where it typically sees up to nine inches of snow - pictured January 5

This year is on track to become the second latest-recorded snowfall in a New York winter, overtaking a record in 1871 when the white stuff did not arrive until January 21. 

But it is likely to fall just shy of beating the absolute record which was in 1973 when no measurable snow occurred until January 29 that season.

That's because forecasters predict parts of New York will facing snowfall of around two inches early next week.

 A trio of storms are expected over the next week, beginning with a relatively weak one on Thursday. 

After that a stronger storm is set to move up the East Coast late on Sunday and continue into Monday, with New York expected to be covered in snow until around Wednesday. 

Another will come late next week.  

New York state climatologist Mark Wysocki told local news site NYUP.com:   'We should get a shot at two storms that should produce nothing but snow for us.

A photo from Times Square, NYC, on January 29 shows city covered in snow VS January 13 this year

'Each storm is capable of bringing 2 to 4 inches of snow but that could change to 4 to 8 inches pretty quickly.'

An advisory issued by the National Weather Service issued today also reads: 'There is the potential for a coastal storm along the east coast, which could bring wintry precipitation back to the area Sunday into Monday.'

Images from meteorological site Ventusky show New York will be covered in snowfall of around two inches on Monday.

However most parts will be dry again by the following Thursday. 

The last time the city saw snow was March 9, 2022 - meaning the city has been without snow for 313 days

It comes after an unusually warm start to the year, with this January ranking as the third mildest in New York since records began. 

The mean temperature from January 1 to January 16 was 43.9 degrees Fahrenheit, nearly 10 degrees above the average for this time of the year. 

Typically New York first starts to see its first drops of snow on December 11 and by January it surpasses nine inches. 

The last time the city saw measurable was snow was on March 9, 2022 when 0.4 inches fell.

It makes it the fourth longest snowless streak the city has ever seen.