A huge swath of the continental US is under a major winter storm warning that's likely to bring travel to a halt and seriously stress the power grid. Local governments are scrambling to find shelter for the tens of thousands of homeless that struggle in the margins in two dozen states.
Gov. Hochul, Gov. Sherrill and Mayor Mamdani have all declared a state of emergency urging residents to avoid all but essential travel.
Both Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New Jersey Gov. Mikkie Sherrill have been in their new jobs for less than a month but over the next 72 hours will face that unique test of fire that only a blizzard can present any elected official new to an executive role.
In New Jersey and the rest of New York State, depending on the elevation and storm trajectory, accumulation could be closer to 18 inches.
The New York City Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) has issued a hazardous travel advisory for Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26. Road conditions may be dangerous due to snow, ice, and reduced visibility, and New Yorkers are strongly encouraged to avoid non-essential travel. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for New York City in effect from 3 a.m. Sunday, January 25 through 6 p.m. Monday, January 26.
According to the latest National Weather Service forecast, a significant winter storm will begin late Saturday night into early Sunday morning, with the heaviest snow to last throughout the day on Sunday. Accumulation in New York City is forecast to be between 8 inches to 14 inches. The National Weather Service has also issued a Cold Weather Advisory starting Friday, January 23, at 10 p.m. through Saturday, January 24 at 10 a.m.
"An Arctic air mass will move in starting late Friday, leading to frigid conditions throughout the weekend and into early next week," according to NYC OEM. "Temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing through Wednesday, with a potential reinforcing shot of Arctic air later in the week." The Arctic low temperatures will be around 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 degrees Celsius) with wind chills as low as -8 degrees Fahrenheit (-22 degrees Celsius).
An impending foot snowfall spotlights the reality that New York City has the level of homelessness not seen since the Depression in the 1930s with the Coalition for the Homeless estimating that over 100,000 people were homeless with more than 200,000 sleeping "temporarily doubled-up in the homes of others."
“We’re facing a major winter storm that could bring some of the heaviest snowfall New York City has seen in years, along with frigid temperatures and high winds,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “City agencies are fully mobilized, our streets are being treated, our plow fleet is prepared, and outreach teams are working around the clock to ensure New Yorkers can stay safe and homeless New Yorkers can access shelter. I’m deeply grateful to the public servants who are putting in long, cold hours under tough conditions to help our city weather this severe winter weather. I urge everyone across the five boroughs to prepare ahead of the storm, stay off the roads once it begins, and follow updates through Notify NYC.”
Winter storms on this scale can be deadly.
"Forty years ago this week, a snowstorm struck New York City, eventually killing 42 people, half of them in Queens, and injuring 288 others," the New York Times reported in 2009. "The blizzard prompted a political crisis that became legendary in the annals of municipal politics, nearly brought down the administration of Mayor John V. Lindsay and offered an instructive lesson to elected officials in the politics of snow removal."
"Cold weather brings an increased risk of fires and other emergencies,” said Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. “We want you to be safe in this storm. Taking a few basic precautions, like using space heaters safely and having working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, can help protect your family. Our EMTs, Paramedics, Dispatchers, and Firefighters are ready to respond to any type of emergency, at any time, no matter what. We need your help making sure they can safely access hydrants and entryways.”
The FDNY urges New Yorkers to follow these safety tips:
- Use space heaters safely, by placing them on a flat surface at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Always turn them off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Plug heaters directly into an outlet and never use extension cords or damaged cords with space heaters.
- Never use ovens or gas ranges to heat your home. This can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, which can lead to serious illness or death.
- Check on neighbors during extreme cold, especially older adults and those with pre-existing health conditions.
- Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them at least once a month to make sure they’re working.
- Prepare for winter emergencies and stock up on essentials such as flashlights, batteries, nonperishable food, and bottled water. Create a family emergency plan so everyone knows what to do during a fire or severe winter storm.
- Shovel a path to hydrants and entryways so they are visible to the FDNY in case of emergency. Any delay in fire companies locating hydrants and getting water on a fire endangers the lives of Firefighters AND civilians.
Winter Storm Warning means that heavy snow of at least 6 inches in 12 hours, or at least 8 inches in 24 hours is expected. Periods of heavy snow will cause travel difficulties and low visibility. New Yorkers are encouraged to avoid travel whenever possible and use public transportation when traveling. Snow accumulations may impact the morning commute on Monday, January 26.
With temperatures forecast to drop below freezing, the Department of Social Services (DSS) will issue Code Blue Weather Alerts to protect vulnerable New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. This alert is activated whenever the temperature or wind chill is predicted to reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit (Celsius 0) or below between 4 p.m. and 8 a.m., triggering enhanced outreach efforts to encourage those living on the streets to seek shelter. During Code Blue, highly trained outreach teams work tirelessly to connect unsheltered New Yorkers with critical resources, including shelters, drop-in centers, safe havens, and stabilization beds.
“We are expecting a very significant winter storm on Sunday with heavy snow and poor visibility. The storm will cause messy road conditions, and will likely impact the Monday morning commute,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “We are working very closely with our local, state and private partners, to coordinate a response and minimize impacts to essential services. We urge all New Yorkers to exercise caution. If you must travel, consider using public transportation and allow for extra travel time. None of this preparedness and coordination happens without the passion and commitment of all the amazing city employees who are working behind the scenes to prepare the city and keep all New Yorkers safe.”
"New York City is expecting real snow this weekend, with very substantial accumulation followed by deep cold that may produce serious ice conditions. DSNY has thousands of plows and salt spreaders ready to go, and hundreds of millions of salt on hand, but it will take time to clear streets. We need New Yorkers to stay off the roads if possible and, if they must travel, to do so with extreme care so that we can do our work safely. It's a Sunday storm, stay in and enjoy it while we get the job done," said Javier Lojan, Acting Commissioner, NYC Department of Sanitation.
NYC Emergency Management will continue to work closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the weather and any potential impacts associated with the winter storm. New Yorkers should prepare for slippery road conditions, and exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking. Whether traveling for work, errands or recreation, please consider taking public transportation whenever possible.
Safety Tips
- Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the city will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including Notify NYC. Sign up for emergency notifications online or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on social media.
- Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation.
- If you must drive, use extra caution. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.
- Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
- Four-wheel drive vehicles may make it easier to drive on snow-covered roads, but they stop less quickly than other vehicles.
- Pedestrians should exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping. Use handrails when using stairs.
- Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls.
- Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.
- Outdoor workers, such as those in construction and utilities, face risks from cold-related health impacts. Employers should implement safe work practices, provide appropriate protective equipment, and train workers on recognizing cold-related disorders, prevention strategies, and proper treatment. Ensuring workplace safety during winter conditions helps protect employees from the dangers of prolonged exposure to cold weather.
- Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed.
Winter Heating Safety Tips
- Don’t use your oven to heat your apartment.
- Do not leave space heaters, candles or electric candles unattended.
- Call 311 to report heat outages in your apartment.
- To report power outages, downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment, call your power provider immediately to report the outage. Con Edison’s 24-hour hotline is 800-75-CONED (752-6633) (TTY: 800-642-2308). You can also report an outage online on Con Edison’s website. National Grid’s 24-hour hotline is 718-643-4050 (TTY: 718-237-2857). PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour hotline is 800-490-0025 (TTY: 631-755-6660).
