New York City has suffered 18 fatalities during an extended period of extreme cold weather, Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported. Since late January, the city has faced a significant cold snap, with temperatures at or below freezing for 13 consecutive days, marking one of the longest stretches of sub-zero weather in six decades.
The mayor noted that over the weekend, another individual died on the streets, bringing the total to 18. “Each life lost is a tragedy, and we will continue to hold their families in our thoughts,” Mamdani said. Despite a forecasted rise in temperatures this week, they are expected to remain below average, prompting the mayor to urge residents to exercise caution, stay indoors, and support one another.
A Code Blue emergency was declared on January 19, relaxing intake policies at homeless shelters to accommodate the cold weather. Since then, around 1,400 people have been placed in shelters, with an additional 64 hotel rooms added to shelter capacity. At least 150 outreach workers have been dispatched to help vulnerable individuals.
On January 27, the mayor confirmed that at least 10 of the 18 deceased were found outdoors, while the details surrounding other deaths have yet to be clarified. Mamdani emphasized ongoing efforts to protect the city’s residents, noting that temperatures had not risen above 32 degrees Fahrenheit for several days, with weather conditions remaining harsh.
The US National Weather Service reported that although temperatures are expected to reach around 0 degrees Celsius during the week, this remains below the average highs of approximately 4 degrees Celsius for this time of year. The cold snap was intensified by an Arctic air mass that produced hazardous wind chills over the weekend, elevating the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.
The extreme cold brought snow and ice, complicating travel and creating public safety concerns. New York City’s Emergency Management agency warned about the dangers posed by melting snow and ice falling from buildings and the possibility of streets and sidewalks refreezing overnight.
This cold weather episode has had widespread impacts, creating hazardous conditions for residents, particularly those without shelter. City officials continue to encourage precautions to minimize risks as temperatures gradually begin to climb, though the winter weather remains challenging.
