New York City faces a potentially crippling snowstorm that could dump up to two feet of snow from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The latest forecast predicts between 16 and 24 inches of snow beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday and continuing until 6 p.m. Monday, according to meteorologists. Wind gusts could reach 60 miles per hour, with the heaviest snowfall and strongest winds expected overnight.
The combination of heavy snow and fierce winds will likely create whiteout conditions, reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile due to blowing snow, according to the National Weather Service. The strong winds also pose risks of random power outages if tree branches fall on power lines.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration has mobilized city resources ahead of the storm’s arrival. The Department of Sanitation has prepared over 2,200 vehicles and 700 salt spreaders, according to the mayor’s office. Sanitation workers are already salting roads throughout the city and standing ready to dispatch plow trucks once snow begins accumulating.
The mayor plans to decide by noon Sunday whether to move Monday’s public school classes to remote learning, according to city officials.
Officials are urging residents to restrict travel to emergencies only during the storm. “I’m urging all New Yorkers to look out for yourselves and your neighbors: stay home if you can, stay safe, and stay connected through Notify NYC for real-time updates,” Mamdani said in a statement.
The city has activated additional resources for homeless New Yorkers as temperatures are expected to plummet. A “code blue” went into effect Saturday, guaranteeing shelter for homeless residents when temperatures drop below 32 degrees, according to city officials.
Homeless outreach teams will expand their efforts through Tuesday morning, deploying 22 warming buses, 11 hospital spaces and 13 school locations, according to Mamdani’s office. The enhanced response comes after lawmakers questioned the city’s handling of freezing temperatures following last month’s major snowstorm, when deaths among people experiencing homelessness drew scrutiny.
“Our city doesn’t wait for a crisis to act — we organize, we prepare, and we take care of each other,” Mamdani said in a statement. “As this snowstorm approaches, our administration is mobilizing every resource available to keep New Yorkers safe, informed, and warm. Our agencies will be here plowing streets, salting roads, and opening warming centers in every borough because public safety is a public responsibility.”
The mayor received praise for his administration’s immediate response to last month’s historic snowstorm, according to officials. However, criticism emerged in subsequent weeks over the city’s handling of shelter needs during the extended cold snap that followed.
The approaching blizzard threatens to disrupt Monday’s commute and daily operations across the five boroughs. With nearly two feet of snow possible and dangerous wind conditions, city agencies are preparing for what could be one of the most significant winter storms in recent memory.
Residents can stay updated on storm developments and city services through Notify NYC, the city’s official emergency notification system, according to officials.
