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

• 
  Northern Boulevard Safety Concerns Spark Calls for Major Redesign
  Northern Boulevard safety concerns have led community members and officials in Queens to demand a comprehensive redesign, citing unsafe conditions and a need for urgent action.
• 
  Three New Schools Open in Western Queens Amid Ongoing Classroom Overcrowding
  Three new schools have opened in Western Queens, giving some relief in classroom overcrowding, but families still face capacity challenges and tough implementation issues this fall.
• 
  Certified 9/11-Related Cancer Cases Double at Northwell Health
  Northwell Health has seen a sharp increase as certified 9/11-related cancer cases double, transforming care for survivors and responders in the New York region.
• 
  Long-Term Health Effects Linked to 9/11: 25 Years Later
  The 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks brings renewed focus to long-term health effects linked to 9/11, with ongoing needs for survivors, first responders, and affected communities.
• 
  NYC Yellow School Bus Shortage Disrupts Back-to-School Plans
  A potential NYC yellow school bus shortage could affect back-to-school transportation and schedules as classes begin. Learn how families, schools, and city officials are responding.

What the Promenade Remembers

A morning walk, a small act, and the quiet difference between what we notice and what we leave behind.

Eleanor Rivers Jun 12, 2026

The light on the East River in the early morning is different from the light anywhere else on the Island. It comes in low and sideways, catching the water in long, uneven flashes. On certain days it makes the promenade feel less like a walkway and more like a corridor someone once meant to finish but never quite did. When I was younger I found the suggestion to stop and look at it faintly ridiculous.

Continue reading →