A breathtaking mosaic of ice has taken over New York City's waterways, stretching nearly halfway down the Hudson River. Residents are flocking to take in the stunning sight, with some even capturing it on camera as a cherished memory. The massive blocks of ice, known as floes, have become so abundant that ferry services have been suspended due to hazardous conditions.
However, despite the eerie beauty of this frozen landscape, experts warn that a complete freeze is highly unlikely. Shannon Roback, science director at Riverkeeper, notes that prolonged arctic conditions are required for the Hudson River and other NYC waterways to fully ice over. The high salinity, strong tidal currents, and industrial activity in the area make it difficult for the water to freeze completely.
Instead, the rivers have become a maze of slushy, thin ice, forming as a result of the constant movement and mixing of warmer, deeper water with the surface. This unique environment prevents solid sheets of ice from forming, making a complete freeze extremely rare.
New Yorkers are embracing this unusual weather phenomenon, taking breaks to marvel at the frozen landscape and its mesmerizing reflections. Even during Revolutionary War times, when ice formed on the river, it was used for mail delivery and sleigh rides. The last recorded complete freeze in the Hudson River occurred over 200 years ago, but partial freezes have been observed since the 1940s.
As temperatures are expected to remain at or below freezing through next Tuesday, residents will likely continue to flock to the icy waterways to experience this breathtaking spectacle. While a full freeze may be out of the question, the temporary beauty of this frozen landscape is undeniably captivating.
However, despite the eerie beauty of this frozen landscape, experts warn that a complete freeze is highly unlikely. Shannon Roback, science director at Riverkeeper, notes that prolonged arctic conditions are required for the Hudson River and other NYC waterways to fully ice over. The high salinity, strong tidal currents, and industrial activity in the area make it difficult for the water to freeze completely.
Instead, the rivers have become a maze of slushy, thin ice, forming as a result of the constant movement and mixing of warmer, deeper water with the surface. This unique environment prevents solid sheets of ice from forming, making a complete freeze extremely rare.
New Yorkers are embracing this unusual weather phenomenon, taking breaks to marvel at the frozen landscape and its mesmerizing reflections. Even during Revolutionary War times, when ice formed on the river, it was used for mail delivery and sleigh rides. The last recorded complete freeze in the Hudson River occurred over 200 years ago, but partial freezes have been observed since the 1940s.
As temperatures are expected to remain at or below freezing through next Tuesday, residents will likely continue to flock to the icy waterways to experience this breathtaking spectacle. While a full freeze may be out of the question, the temporary beauty of this frozen landscape is undeniably captivating.
i no itsnt goin 2 b a full ice age or watever but i dont care, its still super cool (pun intended)!! theres somethin about the way it reflects th light & looks like a maze of crystals that just takes my breath away... 
even tho experts say its not goin 2 happen, im all 4 it! who cares bout suspending ferry svcz if u csn take a pretty pic & make some rad memories 
. btw, has anyone thought about what this means for local wildlife? they're probably having a tough time adapting to this sudden change in their habitat 
Like, experts say a full freeze is super unlikely and this slushy stuff can break off easily... still, it's hard to resist the magic of it all 
the ice on the Hudson River is SO cool 
! I'm totally loving the pics people are sharing online 
! I wish I could see it in person, it sounds like a dream come true 
, but still, it's pretty and perfect for a stroll or a ferry ride 
. And can you believe the last full freeze was over 200 yrs ago? 
and making the most of these temps 
. Bring on the hot chocolate 
️ and cozy vibes 
!
The slushy, thin ice is SO COOL!!! 
Even if it's just partial freeze, it's still a total game changer for NYC! 
Let's enjoy this winter wonderland while it lasts, 'kay? 
. Can't they see they're disrupting the ecosystem? And don't even get me started on the ferry services being suspended because of "hazardous conditions" 
. Like, what did people expect? A magical ice age or something?
. It's not like this is some sort of anomaly that can't be predicted. I mean, come on, we have scientists and all... shouldn't they be able to figure out when the river is gonna freeze solid? 
u think it would snow in new york next week tho? 
i heard its been pretty cold lately, i hope my cable tv isn't gonna go out again lol 
do you think they'll get to take ice skating on the frozen river or is that just a pipe dream 
. And the fact that people are still taking it in with cameras and whatnot is pretty cool, I guess.
. Still, I guess this is just another reminder of how unpredictable and messy the world can be 
.
can't we just enjoy the spectacle while it lasts? 
like, what's next? Ice skating on the Hudson River? 
It was used for mail delivery and sleigh rides – talk about a blast from the past!
. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to travel on ferries in ice floes? That's just asking for trouble... and now they're having to suspend services because of it 
. Like, a few more days max and we'll be back to our usual murky waters 
. And can you blame the locals for snapping pics and soaking up the surreal vibes?