New York Braces for Dangerous Cold Snap This Weekend

Frigid temperatures, wind chills, and light snowfall expected to hit the city hard.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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New York City is preparing for another bout of extreme winter weather this weekend, with forecasts calling for dangerously cold temperatures, biting winds, and light snowfall. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold warning, and the city is taking steps to protect vulnerable residents, including expanding warming centers and suspending some policies around removing homeless people from the streets.

Why it matters

The brutal cold poses a serious threat, especially to the city's homeless population, with 17 cold-related deaths reported since late January. This weekend's weather is expected to be 15-25 degrees colder than normal for early February, potentially breaking longstanding records.

The details

Temperatures on Saturday night are predicted to plummet, with wind chills reaching 15 to 25 degrees below zero. While the city is only expected to see 1-2 inches of snow, the lingering snowpack from the previous storm two weeks ago continues to pose challenges. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has directed the police to temporarily suspend their policy of removing homeless individuals from subway stations, and the city has expanded its network of warming centers and hotel shelter units.

  • The extreme cold warning from the National Weather Service will be in effect through Sunday afternoon.
  • Temperatures are expected to climb back to a somewhat milder range by Wednesday.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who has been leading the city's efforts to protect vulnerable residents from the extreme cold.

Dora Pekec

A spokeswoman for New York City Hall, who provided details on the city's policy changes regarding removing homeless individuals from subway stations.

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What they’re saying

“What will separate this weekend' from January's winter storm is an increased number of outreach workers, including extra nurses, who will assess whether people need to be removed involuntarily.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (New York Times)

“Our overall posture is to not just kick somebody out back into the cold.”

— Dora Pekec, Spokeswoman, New York City Hall (New York Times)

What’s next

The city will be closely monitoring the situation and adjusting its response as needed to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers during this dangerous cold snap.

The takeaway

This weekend's extreme cold weather serves as a stark reminder of the challenges the city faces in protecting its most vulnerable residents from the harsh realities of winter. The city's efforts to expand warming centers, suspend certain policies, and increase outreach show a commitment to prioritizing public safety, but the ongoing threat of cold-related deaths underscores the need for continued vigilance and long-term solutions to address homelessness and access to shelter.