A winter storm expected to hit New York City this weekend could bring snow, ice and major travel disruptions — and officials are urging New Yorkers to prepare in advance.
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for the tristate area late Saturday night through Monday afternoon, with 6 or more inches of snow and ice possible for the five boroughs.
What You Need To Know
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for the tristate area late Saturday night through Monday afternoon, with 6 or more inches of snow and ice possible for the five boroughs
Arctic air will settle in Saturday, bringing a deep freeze and temperatures in the teens and 20s before the snow moves in. Travel delays are likely for much of the central and eastern U.S.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is urging New Yorkers to sign up for NotifyNYC alerts and stock up on groceries and winter necessities in advance
Arctic air will settle in Saturday, bringing a deep freeze and temperatures in the teens and 20s before the snow moves in. Travel delays are likely for much of the central and eastern U.S.
“We are expecting precipitation to begin late Saturday or early Sunday, and to possibly last into Monday,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a press conference Thursday. “While we cannot control how much snow will actually fall this weekend, we can control how we prepare for and respond to this storm.”
City workers will start brining highways, streets and bike lanes Friday ahead of the storm, he said. On Saturday morning, around 2,000 Department of Sanitation employees will begin working 12-hour shifts.
“As we speak, our Sanitation fleet is being transformed into a snow-clearing fleet,” he said. Hundreds of salt spreaders will traverse the five boroughs once the snow starts falling, he added.
Winter storm watch issued for entire forecast region for late Saturday night through Monday afternoon for heavy snow potential of 6 to 12 inches with some snow accumulations over 12 inches possible. See more here in this text product, https://t.co/iDiDwXWmTX. #NYwx #NJwx #CTwx pic.twitter.com/KgNCuZBFlw
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 22, 2026
A Code Blue — issued when temperatures drop to 32 degrees or lower overnight — will be in effect, with outreach teams on hand to help vulnerable New Yorkers find shelter, Mamdani said.
The city has yet to decide whether public school students will get a snow day Monday, the mayor noted.
“We are working to do everything that we can to keep our schools open,” he said. “And once we make a final decision as to what it will look like on Monday, we will communicate that clearly and directly to families and to students themselves.”
The mayor urged New Yorkers to sign up for NotifyNYC alerts and stock up on groceries and winter necessities in advance.
“Do not leave it until the weekend,” he said. “I ask that everyone not only stay warm, but stay prepared, because we want everyone to stay safe.”
New Yorkers stocking up on salt, groceries and other necessities ahead of the storm.
“I see why people move to Florida and stuff,” Goldie Thomas, a Greenpoint resident, said.
“We’re just trying to prepare, we’re just trying to stay prepared,” Andre Gordon, a Cambria Heights resident, said.
Queens residents also traveled to their local Home Depot on Thursday to buy salt, only to find it had been sold out for hours.