“How do we define a “heavy” snowfall? It is typically measured in inches, but numbers alone cannot capture the full experience. Across New York City, snowfall is felt differently depending on location beautiful to some, disruptive to others.
This project explores those differences by collecting individual experiences, revealing how inequality emerges through urban infrastructure and snow management. While snow is shared, its impact is uneven.
Official records from the National Weather Service, measured at Belvedere Castle in Central Park, provide a historical baseline from 1870 to 2025, highlighting extreme snowfall patterns and broader climate trends.
A second layer maps how streets are prioritized for snow removal, showing how recovery varies across neighborhoods.
By combining data with lived experience, the project reframes snowfall not just as a measurable event, but as a socially differentiated condition shaped by infrastructure, policy, and perception.”
