New York City Historic Winter Storm Set To Arrive Tonight Into Monday UPDATE

January 25, 2026 Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer 1 Commuting Around SI and NYC, Environment, Morality and Ethics, New York City News, Staten Island Families, Staten Island News, Staten Islander Exclusive

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES A HAZARDOUS TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 UNTIL MONDAY, JANUARY 26

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for New York City from 3 a.m. Sunday, January 25 Until 6 p.m. Monday, January 26

National Weather Service Also Issues Cold Weather Advisory from Friday, January 23 at 10 p.m. through Saturday, January 24 at 10 a.m.

New Yorkers are encouraged to assist any unhoused persons they come across outside to help them get to a Code Blue safe haven location by calling 311 to get them help. As of Sunday morning, five New Yorkers have passed, likely due to the cold, but the causes of death are still being investigated.

All hospitals in NYC will accept homeless people who come to their door to get warm. There are two schools in each borough that have been activated as warming shelter centers, which will be available throughout this week. Curtis High School and New Dorp High School are the Island’s locations. Find the others here. School’s Chancellor and the Mayor also added that NYC schools will not have a day off, but instead will be switched to seamless remote learning. The Mayor mentioned that kids who wanted a snow day and instead must attend school are welcome to throw a snowball his way.

Coalition For The Homeless Extreme Cold: Code Blue

The Department of Homeless Services has a policy called “Code Blue” for winter nights when the temperature drops to 32 degrees or below, including wind-chill, between 4:00 PM and 8:00 AM.

What Changes When Code Blue is in Effect?

On these nights, Department of Homeless Services policies are relaxed to ensure everyone is warm and safe. This includes:

Drop-in centers are required to take as many clients as possible, within the Department of Buildings restrictions.
Anyone in need of a place to go can walk into single adult or family shelters, without undergoing typical intake and eligibility procedures, for the night in question.
Clients can access any shelter, not just their assigned shelter, for the night in question.
More outreach teams will be on the streets to offer services and shelter.
No shelter suspensions or sanctions can be carried out on these dates. Clients who have been sanctioned can return to the shelter for the night in question, if necessary.

Rep AOC has previously provided tips for New Yorkers to prepare and stay safe in a winter storm. And PETA spokesperson provided safety tips for companion animals who may be overlooked by some residents. See below the NYCEM announcement for BP Fossella’s statement on school plans for Monday:

January 23, 2026 — 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.

A 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.

According to the latest National Weather Service forecast, a significant winter storm is expected to begin late Saturday night into early Sunday morning, with the main heavy snow impacts to last throughout the day on Sunday. Snow accumulation is forecast to be between 8 inches to possibly 14 inches. In addition to the winter storm warning, the NWS 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. 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).

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’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.”

“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)

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/EmergencyManagement. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or download the free app for your Android or Apple device. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

A Statement from Borough President Vito Fossella on Status of Schools on Monday Following Weekend Snowstorm

Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella issued the following statement regarding the status of schools on Monday amid the upcoming snowstorm:

“In anticipation of this weekend’s major snowstorm, we believe all Staten Island schools should prepare to conduct remote instruction on Monday.

It would seem that a traditional snow day is the best option, but the City has declared that is not an option, in part due to the need to comply with the State law on the number of days kids must be in school.

In the interest of keeping parents, children and staff safe, and for keeping the roads clear for Sanitation to clean the snow, we believe schools should be closed to in-person instruction on Monday, if a traditional snow day is not an option.

While in many other communities around the City, subways are an option for students to travel to and from school, Staten Island families are almost always required to either drive or take a bus.

That decision should be made as soon as possible, especially in light of the State’s recent emergency declaration, so that parents can make the necessary preparations.”

Banner Image: After the storm. Image Credit – Patino Jhon