2011 - Warmer Weather Welcomes In Window Cleaning

THANK HEAVEN IT’S 2011! Millions of people last night said good riddance to a miserable 2010 and welcomed in the start of a sparkling New Year. Warmer weather tempted crowds on to the streets – a welcome respite after weeks of heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures. An estimated 250,000 lined the Thames for a spectacular musical and firework display at the London Eye. Mayor Boris Johnson said the dazzling display captured the “dynamism, colour and energy” of the city. Crowds of revellers also turned out for the Edinburgh Hogmanay street party and festival, which began with a torchlight procession along the Royal Mile.

Massive Crowd! New York City officials say one million people crowded into Times Square to watch the celebration.

Warmer weather ends snowiest December, but cold returns Sunday: Oskar Latek, left, of Fish Window Cleaning, with Joe Staszcyk of Irondequoit, prepares to switch panels from the skywalk over Woodbury Boulevard on Friday as they clean the windows at Frontier Communications. The snowiest December in Rochester history is ending without a flurry, as warmer-than-usual temperatures are melting the snowpack, and rain — not snow — is on the forecast horizon.

There’s no chance of extending the record of 46.5 inches of snow before midnight, said Dave Thomas, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Temperatures in the 40s Friday — and a shot at 50 degrees on New Year’s Day — put the kibosh on more snow for now, he said. The weather service is predicting steady rain for today, with colder weather and windier conditions Sunday and Monday. Areas east of Rochester could see some snow showers, the weather service said. There are no flood watches or warnings for now, but that could change with ice jams in rivers, Thomas said.