On Tuesday, New Yorkers woke up to a decent amount of snow but nothing close to the historic projections that were predicted Monday.
While some were annoyed by the inaccurate forecast, one meteorologist felt it necessary to offer an apology.
“My deepest apologies to many key decision makers and so many members of the general public,” tweeted Gary Szatkowski, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, early Tuesday morning.
The mea culpa came after weather agencies had forecast as much as three feet of snow for New York City and parts of New Jersey.
The huge projections on Monday led New York and New Jersey state officials to set up travel bans that shut down traffic and train travel.
In the end, New York City had received less than a foot of snow by midday Tuesday. (However, Boston, parts of New England, and Long Island were hit with snowfall levels closer to initial projections.)
“You made a lot of tough decisions expecting us to get it right, and we didn’t,” Szatkowski added. “Once again, I’m sorry.”
Szatkowski, who works in Mount Holly, N.J., was not alone in asking for forgiveness. Other meteorologists like Slate’s Eric Holthaus also apologized for their oversized projections.
But some on social media were quick to point out how difficult it is to predict the weather.
It was a sentiment Szatkowski appreciated.
“Thank you to the many folks who have been very gracious on social media this morning. Much appreciated,” Szatkowski tweeted after his apology Tuesday.