New York City Deploys Hot Tubs to Melt Stubborn Snow Piles

With no warm weather in sight, the city turns to mechanical snow melters to clear the streets.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 3:39pm

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After a major snowstorm dumped over a foot of snow on New York City, piles of snow remain unmelted days later. To combat the persistent snow, the city's Sanitation Department has deployed 8 hot tub-like snow melters around the five boroughs to quickly melt the accumulated snow. The machines can melt up to 120 tons of snow per hour, but require careful operation to maintain the optimal water temperature.

Why it matters

New York City's streets and public spaces need to be cleared of snow for transportation, public safety, and business operations. The city's usual snow removal methods have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of snow, necessitating the deployment of these specialized snow melting machines. This highlights the challenges cities face in dealing with extreme winter weather events that may become more common due to climate change.

The details

The Sanitation Department's snow melters, officially called Trecan Combustion 60-PD Snowmelters, are large orange machines that resemble the dumping end of a dump truck. They heat water to 38 degrees Fahrenheit to rapidly melt snow that is scooped into the machines by front-end loaders. The melted snow then drains into the sewer system. Deploying and operating the 8 snow melters across the city requires 2,500 Sanitation Department employees working 12-hour shifts, plus 500 emergency shovelers and 300 temporary heavy machinery operators.

  • The snow stopped falling 3 days ago.
  • The snow melters were deployed on Wednesday morning.
  • The snow melting operation is expected to continue through mid-February.
  • There is a 30% chance of additional snow this weekend.

The players

Javier Lojan

The acting commissioner of the New York City Sanitation Department, who is overseeing the snow melting operation.

Joshua Goodman

A spokesman for the New York City Sanitation Department.

Trecan Combustion

The manufacturer of the 60-PD Snowmelter machines being used by the Sanitation Department.

Cariati Developers

A company that is providing dump trucks to transport snow to the melting machines.

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What they’re saying

“It's quite the sight to see.”

— Javier Lojan, Acting Sanitation Commissioner

“These cold snaps are really hard to deal with. The snow is just not melting.”

— Javier Lojan, Acting Sanitation Commissioner

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

New York City's innovative use of hot tub-like snow melters highlights the extraordinary measures cities must take to combat the impacts of extreme winter weather, which may become more common due to climate change. This operation requires a massive coordinated effort by the Sanitation Department to keep the city's streets and public spaces clear and accessible.