It looked like the real thing, but maybe they got it wrong. The National Weather Service downgraded its winter storm watch for today to a simple advisory. Snowfall prediction fell to 3 to 5 inches, and even that’s looking iffy.

This weather situation is developing quickly and is subject to change. We’ll keep an eye on it and update.

UPDATE, THURSDAY, FEB. 18TH: Heavy snow predictions were dropped NWS guidance downgraded this event to a “Winter Weather Watch.” It may be slippery, and you will need to be cautious. But closings, like those enacted by RIOC, are unlikely in most places. The eager to stay home state agency also rushed parking restrictions, which are now in force.

Expect wintery conditions tonight and Friday with a wintry mix of ice and rain possible as Friday introduces a gradual warming trend.

End of Update

UPDATE, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17TH: Although there will be some flurries before dawn on Thursday, the main force of the storm moves in during the day. With temperatures hanging around the upper 20s, accumulations of 3 to 5 inches expected during the day with another 1 to 5 in the evening before it tapers off.

On the plus side, high winds will not accompany the storm, making it a great day for snowmen and sledding.

Also, a warming trend seeps in by Friday. Highs for the next ten days will be above freezing and in the 40s consistently starting Monday.

Looking ahead: Expect RIOC to invoke parking restrictions sometime today.

Also recently from the Roosevelt Island Daily News

• 
  Long Island City Rent Overcharge Lawsuit Seeks $50 Million Against Developer
  A Long Island City rent overcharge lawsuit seeks about $50 million from Rockrose Development, raising questions about billing practices, tenant protections, and legal oversight in NYC’s fast-changing rental market.
• 
  Astoria E-Scooter Rider Dies After Northern Boulevard Crash in Long Island City
  A 22-year-old Astoria e-scooter rider died after a Northern Boulevard crash in Long Island City. Details remain under investigation, highlighting micromobility risks on busy city streets.
• 
  Hate Crime Charges Filed After Vandalism at Fresh Meadows Kosher Bagel Shop
  Hate crime charges have been filed after vandalism at a kosher bagel shop in Fresh Meadows, with prosecutors alleging bias-motivated acts. Hearings are set in New York’s legal process.
• 
  Midtown Subway Shooting Leaves 26-Year-Old Dead; Queens Incidents Separate
  A shooting inside a Manhattan subway station left a 26-year-old dead. Police investigate the Midtown incident and separate shootings in Queens as commuters seek safety.
• 
  College Point Community Responds After Senior Dog Taken From Front Lawn
  A College Point senior dog was taken from her front lawn, sparking a neighborhood response and NYPD investigation. Learn how the community is working together after a senior dog was taken from front lawn.

The Well-Funded Vision and the Silent Landlord

A capable nonprofit has done the work. The public corporation that controls the land has offered no position.

Theo Gobblevelt Jun 19, 2026

RIOC’s Real Estate Development Advisory Committee met last night. The Renwick Ruin was not on the agenda. A nonprofit that has spent eight years developing detailed plans for the site, raised more than a million dollars, and assembled a board with serious finance and legal credentials continues its work.

Continue reading →