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If you thought the worst part of this winter was digging out from a foot of snow, New York has some bad news for you. The storm may be gone, but a prolonged stretch of dangerous cold is settling in—and it’s going to linger.
Forecasters say we’re about to enter one of the coldest periods of the season, with wind chills dropping as low as -20 degrees in the mornings and daytime temperatures struggling to climb out of the teens. The National Weather Service has issued Cold Weather Advisories for parts of the Tri-State area, warning that frostbite and hypothermia can set in quickly with prolonged exposure.
“As we dry out, the story becomes the temperatures,” National Weather Service meteorologist Dominic Ramunni told Gothamist. “We’re talking about an extended period through the rest of this week, not only below the freezing mark but probably struggling to get out of the lower 20s most afternoons.”
Central Park officially recorded 11.4 inches of snow, the city’s biggest snowfall since 2022, and thanks to the incoming Arctic air, that snow isn’t going anywhere. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until at least February 3, meaning melting will be minimal and refreezing will be a nightly problem.
Today will be especially harsh, with wind chills between -10 and 5 degrees and only light flurries to offer any atmospheric drama. Nights will be just as unforgiving, with wind chills dipping back toward zero or below. Conditions will remain brutal through midweek, with Wednesday feeling like 10 to 15 degrees and Thursday barely improving at 5 to 10 degrees.
City officials are urging New Yorkers to limit time outdoors, dress in layers and check in on neighbors, pets and anyone without reliable heat. The city remains under Code Blue, meaning shelters have an open-door policy and warming centers are open across all five boroughs.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani stressed that the danger hasn’t passed just because the snow has stopped. “Our top priority remains ensuring that every New Yorker can remain safe and warm throughout this prolonged cold period,” he said at a Monday press conference.
Forecasters are also watching a potential system later this weekend that could bring a light round of snow, though models currently disagree on how close it will come. For now, the bigger concern is the cold itself—and how long it’s going to stick around.
If you’re shoveling, Ramunni offered one last piece of advice: “It’s not a race. Dress warmly, stay hydrated and take frequent breaks.” Solid guidance for the week ahead.