NYC's 'Snow Hot Tubs' Melt 23 Million Pounds of Snow

City officials turn to heavy-duty snow melters to clear snowbanks and intersections after major winter storm.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:07pm

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New York City was hit with 11.4 inches of snow last weekend, leaving the city with piles of snow that were eating up curb space and blocking intersections. To deal with the excess snow, city officials have turned to using heavy-duty snow melters - massive machines that can turn truckloads of snow into water. These 'snow hot tubs' have already melted 23 million pounds of snow across the five boroughs, with 2,500 sanitation workers clearing critical infrastructure during 12-hour shifts.

Why it matters

Snow melters are an essential tool for dense cities like New York that have limited space to store plowed snow. By melting the snow on-site, crews can quickly clear streets and intersections without building up large, obstructive snowbanks. This is especially important during long cold stretches when snow doesn't melt much on its own, allowing slush and packed snow to refreeze at night.

The details

The snow melters work by dumping snow into a heated tank, melting it down, and then draining the water into nearby storm drains. NYC has set up eight snow-melting sites across the five boroughs to handle the massive amounts of snow from the recent winter storm.

  • Last weekend, New York City was hit with 11.4 inches of snow in the biggest winter storm in years.
  • Temperatures are expected to stay near or below freezing into mid-February, limiting daytime melting and allowing slush and packed snow to refreeze at night.

The players

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The mayor of New York City.

NYC Sanitation Workers

2,500 sanitation workers clearing bus stops, crosswalks, hydrants, and other critical infrastructure during 12-hour shifts.

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What they’re saying

“Across all five boroughs, we've melted 23 million pounds of snow using eight snow-melting sites. Every 12-hour shift, 2,500 sanitation workers are out there clearing bus stops, crosswalks, hydrants, and other critical infrastructure. These are tough conditions, and these workers are doing essential work to keep this city moving.”

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

What’s next

Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing into mid-February, requiring the continued use of snow melters to clear streets and intersections.

The takeaway

New York City's innovative use of snow melters, or 'snow hot tubs', highlights the creative solutions cities must employ to manage extreme winter weather in dense urban environments with limited space for snow storage. The tireless efforts of sanitation workers are essential to keeping the city functioning during these challenging conditions.