New York City

Fun Facts: How Much Does a Snowstorm Cost?

Snow continues to wallop the tri-state area, with more than a foot already recorded in some spots and up to 14 inches expected for New York City by the time the storm moves out. 

The Office of the New York City Comptroller released a study it conducted from fiscal years 2003-2016 about how much it costs to clear the streets during a storm. 

Here are the stats:
  • Based on snow removal costs from the 13-year study, it costs an average of $1,994,555 per inch of snow.

  • The 2016 costs clocked in above that number, costing an average of $3,283,126 per inch. Only 2012 and 2007 had higher average costs.

  • The city budgeted $88 million for ice and snow removal this year.
  • Thursday's projected snowfall of 10 to 14 inches will cost between $19.9-$27.9 million.
  • If only 10 inches fall Thursday, the city could still afford to remove 21.1 inches of snow this fiscal year. If 14 inches fall, the city could afford to remove just another 17.1 inches, based on the budget.

  • The priciest year during the study was 2014, when snow removal cost $130.6 million. Peak snowfall was in 2011, though, when 61.5 inches fell.
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 9: A man walks across the Brooklyn Bridge in the snow, February 9, 2017 in New York City. Following a day of 60 degree temperatures, New York City is expected to receive significant snowfall throughout the day on Thursday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 9: A man walks across the Brooklyn Bridge in the snow, February 9, 2017 in New York City. Following a day of 60 degree temperatures, New York City is expected to receive significant snowfall throughout the day on Thursday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A group of people moved a car stuck in snowy conditions on I-95 Thursday morning.
A train arrives at the Bedford Hills Metro-North station Thursday morning. There weren't many passengers to greet it.
An SUV crashed on Route 35 in Ocean Township.
A tractor-trailer careened off I-287 in Westchester on Thursday morning.
Cabs moved slowly through Times Square Thursday morning as the roads turned slushy.
The NBC 4 New York Skycam captured a snowy scene on the Long Island Expressway, near exit 55, Thursday morning.
Passengers waited amid snowfall Thursday morning at the LIRR station in Deer Park.
Roads were snowy and slick as StormChaser4 approached the Tappan Zee Bridge on Thursday morning.
StormChaser4 traveled through the snowy, empty streets of Tarrytown Thursday morning.
Heavy snow began to stick to the roads as StormChaser4 left Tarrytown early Thursday.
Snowplows were getting ready to clear highways at the Vince Lombardi rest area in Ridgefield, New Jersey, early Thursday.
Eighth Avenue was covered in slush and snow outside the Port Authority Bus Terminal just before dawn.
Sleet made driving conditions in central New Jersey treacherous as day broke Thursday.
A snow plow crashed into a pole as it was clearing snow in Huntington Village Thursday morning.
A stiff breeze had the flags in Rockefeller Center at attention as the storm began to crank in New York City.
The Garden State Parkway was a sea of white near mile marker 115 as the sun rose Thursday morning.
The Hutchinson River Parkway in White Plains is fully coated by the winter storm.
Instagram User @justinstagreen
Instagram user @justinstagreen shared this photo from Times Square Thursday.
Instagram User @maximusupinnyc
Instagram user @maximusupinnyc shared this photo from the Brooklyn Bridge during Thursday's storm.
Instagram User @mariyamova
Instagram user @mariyamova shared this photo of New Yorkers trekking in the snow Thursday.
Instagram User @@betows1
Instagram User @@betows1 shared this photo of snow in the city Thursday.
Instagram User @chris7021
Instagram user @chris7021 shared this photo of the 7 train in the snow Thursday.
Instagram User @merrynerry
The city was covered in white Thursday. Instagram user @merrynerry shared this photo with NBC 4 New York.
Instagram User @bhushan_nyc
Snow blanketed NYC Thursday. Instagram user @bhushan_nyc shared this photo with NBC 4 New York.
Stefan Holt / NBC 4 New York
NBC 4 New York's Stefan Holt shared this photo on Instagram Thursday of snow falling in NYC.
Erica Davies
The only one at Rockefeller Rink today is Titan Prometheus, who's probably a little cold since he's under dressed.
Erica Davies
Pedestrians shield their faces from the snow as they make their way through Rockefeller Plaza.
Erica Davies
The weather has turned Rockefeller Plaza into a ghost town.
Erica Davies
Titus Prometheus isn't alone: he's got a bronze friend to commiserate with him in the snow.
Erica Davies
Trees were covered in white snow jackets along 49th Street Thursday morning.
Erica Davies
Flags whipped through the air as snowflakes and wind swirled wildly Thursday morning.
Erica Davies
It wasn't raining, but pedestrians made sure to keep the umbrella handy.
Erica Davies
Twigs on shrubs bowed out from the piles of snow that fell onto them.
Curtis Moore
One driver suffered an early wipe out on the New Jersey Turnpike this morning.
Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 9: A family plays in the snow in Washington Square Park, February 9, 2017 in New York City. Following a day of 60 degree temperatures, New York City is expected to receive significant snowfall throughout the day on Thursday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Getty Images
RONKONKOMA, NY - FEBRUARY 09: A man walks to the stairs as commuters head to work at the Ronkonkoma train station as a blizzard hits the New York Area on February 9, 2017 in Ronkonkoma, New York.Following a day of 60 degree temperatures, the Northeast is expected to receive a significant snowfall throughout the day. (Photo by Andrew Theodorakis/Getty Images)
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