NYC Mayor: 14 People Died During Cold Snap

Hypothermia was a factor in 8 of the deaths, with the medical examiner still investigating the other 6 fatalities.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 12:55pm

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At least 14 people have died outside in New York City during the recent cold snap and freezing temperatures, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Out of the 14 deaths, hypothermia played a part in the death of 8 people, with the city's medical examiner still working to determine the cause of death for the other 6 individuals.

Why it matters

The recent cold snap in New York City has proven to be one of the longest and most sustained in years, leading to a tragic loss of life among the city's vulnerable homeless population. This highlights the ongoing challenges the city faces in providing adequate shelter and resources to protect those most at risk during extreme weather events.

The details

According to officials, more than half of the 14 deaths occurred on January 24th. The ages of the first 10 victims range from 40 to 90 years old. The city has placed more than 860 homeless New Yorkers into shelters during the cold snap and has opened warming shelters and stationed 20 warming buses around the five boroughs to provide additional resources.

  • On January 24th, more than half of the 14 deaths occurred.
  • The city's medical examiner is still working to determine the cause of death for 6 of the individuals.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City.

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What they’re saying

“This is one of the longest, most sustained cold stretches our city has endured in years, and it is showing no signs of abating. We remain in a Code Blue.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor (patch.com)

“We have expanded shelter capacity, relaxed intake rules and worked with faith-based and community-based organizations to scale up outreach. As we have made clear, we are not going to slow down in this work. No one in this city will be turned away from shelter.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor (patch.com)

What’s next

The city's medical examiner will continue to investigate the causes of death for the remaining 6 individuals.

The takeaway

This tragic loss of life during the cold snap highlights the ongoing challenges the city faces in protecting its most vulnerable residents, particularly the homeless, during extreme weather events. The mayor's efforts to expand shelter capacity and outreach are crucial, but more work remains to be done to ensure no one is left out in the cold.