14th Death Confirmed in New York City Cold Snap

Mayor Mamdani says city has taken extensive measures to get people inside during record-breaking cold temperatures.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 9:15pm

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A 14th person has been found dead in New York City as the city prepares to enter another week of bitter cold temperatures, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Saturday. Mamdani said preliminary findings show hypothermia played a role in eight of the deaths, and the city has taken extensive measures to get people inside, including opening warming shelters, expanding shelter capacity, and increasing outreach efforts.

Why it matters

The extended period of sub-freezing temperatures in New York City has led to a tragic loss of life, highlighting the need for robust emergency response and support systems to protect the city's most vulnerable residents during extreme weather events.

The details

Since the start of the emergency period on January 19, the city has successfully made more than 860 placements into shelters and safe havens. The city has also opened warming shelters across the five boroughs, expanded shelter capacity, relaxed intake rules, and worked with faith-based and community organizations to scale up outreach efforts. The city's medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death for all 14 people, a process that could take up to a week for each person.

  • The city entered a 'Code Blue' on January 19.
  • This could end up becoming the longest period of consecutive sub-32 degree weather in the city's history.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who confirmed the 14th death and provided details on the city's emergency response efforts.

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What they’re saying

“Every life lost in this city is a tragedy, and my heart is with the families of the loved ones of those who have died.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (nbcnewyork.com)

“We have involuntarily transported 16 New Yorkers who were determined to be a danger to themselves or to others.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (nbcnewyork.com)

What’s next

The city's medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death for all 14 people, a process that could take up to a week for each person.

The takeaway

The tragic loss of life during this extended cold snap in New York City underscores the critical importance of having robust emergency response systems and support services in place to protect the city's most vulnerable residents during extreme weather events. The city's efforts to get people inside and provide warming shelters are a necessary step, but more work may be needed to address the root causes of homelessness and ensure all New Yorkers have access to safe, warm shelter during dangerous cold snaps.