New York City has faced a period of extreme cold, with at least 18 people dying due to the weather, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Since late January, the city has had harsh weather. Temperatures stayed at or below 0°C (32°F) for 13 days straight. This is one of the longest cold spells in over 60 years. Over the past weekend, another person died outside. This tragedy shows how dangerous the ongoing cold is.
Mayor Mamdani emphasised the tragedy of each loss and said the city will continue to support the families affected. He urged residents to stay safe, stay indoors when possible, and look out for each other as temperatures, although rising slightly this week, remain below normal.
Since 19 January, the city activated a Code Blue emergency to help those at risk, especially the homeless. This allowed shelters to relax intake rules. The city has placed around 1,400 people in shelters so far and added 64 hotel rooms for extra capacity. At least 150 outreach workers have been sent onto the streets to check on vulnerable residents.
At least 10 reported deaths occurred outdoors. Details about the other deaths have not been confirmed. The mayor stressed that while temperatures may rise slightly, the weather is still cold and dangerous, with highs only reaching around 0°C (32°F), below the usual 4°C for this time of year.
The US National Weather Service warned that an Arctic air mass caused dangerously low “wind chill” temperatures, which can make it feel much colder than the actual thermometer reading. This increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
New York City’s Emergency Management agency warned residents about continuing dangers. Snow and ice may fall from buildings. Streets could refreeze at night, making them slippery and unsafe. People should be careful while walking or driving, especially in areas with snow and ice.
