New York · season guide
Sledding season in Long Island
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Jfk Intl. Airport weather station, about 17 miles from the middle of our Long Island hill list show December as the first month that averages an inch of snow or more (4.5 inches). The normals are monthly averages, so they can't give a first-snow date. Some years come early, some late.
February is the snowiest month on average, at 8.6 inches.
Across a normal year the station records about 25.9 inches of snow. That puts Long Island at 82 of 98 metros on this site, ranked from snowiest down.
About 20 days a year have an inch or more of snow on the ground.
For comparison, New York City, the nearest metro on our list, averages 29.8 inches, more than here.
2 of the 10 hills we list here come from a city, county or park district page.
Month by month
| Month | Average snowfall | Days with 1 inch or more of new snow | Days with 1 inch or more on the ground |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | 0 inches | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| November | 0.4 inches | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| December | 4.5 inches | 0.9 | 2.8 |
| January | 7.5 inches | 1.5 | 6.2 |
| February | 8.6 inches | 2.1 | 7.3 |
| March | 4.3 inches | 1.2 | 3.3 |
| April | 0.6 inches | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, station USW00094789. "Not stated by source" means NOAA publishes no value for that station.
Lit hills
None of the sources we used for Long Island mention lights on a sledding hill. Plan on daylight, and see our national lit hills list if you're travelling.
Local rules
We didn't find a city-wide sledding rule for Long Island in the sources we checked. Individual parks may post their own signs, and those win.
Hours and status lines
Where a source gives hours or a phone line for hill status, here it is. Call before a long drive.
Short answers
When does it usually start snowing in Long Island?
In NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Jfk Intl. Airport station, December is the first month averaging an inch of snow or more. The normals are monthly averages, not a date.
How much snow does Long Island get in a year?
About 25.9 inches a year at the Jfk Intl. Airport station, per NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals.
Are there lit sledding hills in Long Island?
None of the sources we used mention lights. Plan on daylight.
Updated