New York Today: The Science of Our Snowflakes
Updated, 9:58 a.m.
Good morning on this frosty Friday.
Brrrrrr-eaking news, New York: You’re waking up to a lovely white blanket of snow.
This sprinkling does, however, mean we’re in for a nippy day. With the wind, it’ll feel like the low 20s out there.
The silver lining: The colder it gets, the more beautiful our snowflakes can be.
Snowflakes reflect their temperature, explained Kenneth G. Libbrecht, a physicist — and snowflake expert — at the California Institute of Technology.
A snowflake’s sweet spot — when they’re fluffiest, longest-lasting and easiest to see — is at temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees, he said. That’s when you get stellar dendrites, the large, star-shaped crystals prevalent in holiday movies.
The 20s are simply too warm for a snowflake to thrive in all its splendor. On days like today, when it’s just below freezing, the crystals are smaller and not as nicely shaped.
“And the crystals mostly melt when they hit anything,” Dr. Libbrecht said. “But when it’s really cold, they’ll hang around for a while.”
Contrary to popular belief, New York snow is not necessarily worse than the white stuff out West.
“Snow doesn’t care much about whether you’re in the city or in the country; it’s almost entirely about the temperature,” he said, adding, “It’s above people, so it doesn’t care.”
We might not get crystals of the same caliber as those that Dr. Libbrecht “treasure hunts” for in Vermont and Northern Ontario, where it’s far chillier, but he says that if you look hard enough, you can find some beautiful snowflakes here.
When hunting for that perfect specimen, patience — not exactly a strong suit for New Yorkers — is key.
“People are too impatient, usually,” he said. “They’ll see it’s snowing and want to see snowflakes right now, but it doesn’t work that way; you might not have snowflakes like that just yet.”
“It’s like trying to find a rainbow when it’s raining,” he added. “You’ve got to be there when it happens.”
Here’s what else is happening:
In the News
• Organized crime still has a presence along the New York Harbor waterfront. [New York Times]
• Would Hillary Clinton run for mayor of New York against Bill de Blasio? [New York Times]
• The Long Island Rail Road train that crashed in Brooklyn on Wednesday was going more than twice the speed limit. [New York Times]
• ... And one passenger is suing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for $5 million. [New York Post]
• Charles F. Feeney, the “James Bond of philanthropy,” gives away the last of his multibillion-dollar fortune. [New York Times]
• Cell service and Wi-Fi are expected to be available at all subway stations across the city by Monday. [DNAinfo]
• Amazon is scheduled to open its first New York City bookstore later this year. [Wall Street Journal]
• At a Brooklyn music festival this weekend, jazz becomes a form of protest for social justice. [Bklyner]
• A group representing grocery stores is upset that New Yorkers on food stamps can now use their benefits to buy provisions online. [Crain’s]
• Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Skunks in the City”
• For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Friday Briefing.
Coming Up Today
• A Three Kings Day parade — with camels, floats and music — begins at 106th Street and Lexington Avenue in East Harlem. 11 a.m. [Free]
• A dance performance, choreographed by Abdul Latif and performed by the New York City Ballet principal dancer Amar Ramasar, both from the Bronx, at the Bronx Museum. 6 p.m. [Free]
• A screening of “Alien,” followed by a discussion, at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on the Upper West Side. 7 p.m. [$5 suggested donation]
• An evening of Korean folk and rock music at Flushing Town Hall in Queens. 8 p.m. [$16]
• “Piaf! The Show,” celebrating the singer Edith Piaf, at Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan. 8 p.m. [Tickets start at $30]
• Devils host Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. (MSG+). Nets host Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. (YES). Knicks at Bucks, 8 p.m. (MSG). Islanders at Avalanche, 9 p.m. (MS+2).
The Weekend
Saturday
• Work up a sweat, and then chill, with a cardio and meditation class at the Conference House Museum on Staten Island. 9 a.m. [Free]
• Give back by recycling your holiday tree during MulchFest at designated parks across the city. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The musical “Finian’s Rainbow,” one of The Times’s theater critic’s five must-see shows this month, at the Irish Repertory Theater in Chelsea. 3 and 8 p.m. [Tickets start at $50]
• An evening of soul music, film and art at the Brooklyn Museum. 5 to 11 p.m. [Free]
• The closing reception of the exhibition “Life of an American Ruin: Philip Johnson’s New York State Pavilion” at the City Reliquary in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 5:30 p.m. [$8]
• Devils host Oilers, 7 p.m. (MSG+). Rangers at Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. (MSG2). Knicks at Pacers, 7 p.m. (MSG). Islanders at Coyotes, 8 p.m. (MS+2).
• Watch “The New York Times Close Up,” featuring our political reporter Amy Chozick and other guests. Saturday at 10 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. on NY1.
Sunday
• Search for winter birds at Wave Hill in the Bronx. 9:30 a.m. [$8]
• Children can make their own musical instruments at the Tinker Lab Open House at the Lewis H. Latimer House in Flushing, Queens. 1 p.m. [Free]
• A screening of the film “Territory,” followed by a conversation with the director, is part of the First Look 2017 festival at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. 2 p.m. [$15]
• A musical tribute to David Bowie at the Delancey on the Lower East Side. 6 p.m. [$15]
• “Club Diamond,” a show that blends silent film, violin, and traditional Japanese performance, is part of the Under the Radar Festival at the Public Theater in NoHo. 7 p.m. [$25]
• Nets host 76ers, Noon (YES). Giants at Packers, 4:40 p.m. (FOX).
• For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide.
Commute
• Alternate-side parking: suspended today because of snow.
And Finally...
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will deliver his 2017 State of the State addresses next week.
(Addresses, plural, because this year he’s taking his agenda on tour and giving six speeches.)
He’ll be in New York City and Buffalo on Monday, Westchester and Long Island on Tuesday, and Albany and Syracuse on Wednesday.
A few expected talking points: his plans to rebuild Kennedy International Airport, to make child care more affordable for middle-class families, and to cover tuition costs at state colleges for hundreds of thousands of middle- and low-income New Yorkers.
Want to see one of the speeches in person?
Before noon today, you can register to attend a State of the State address at any of the specified locations — simply submit your information here to be entered into the ticket lottery.
You’ll be notified by Sunday if you’ve been selected.
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P.C: http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/nyregion/new-york-today-city-snowflakes-science-kenneth-libbrecht.html
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