Northeast Thaws After Days of Life-Threatening Cold

Temperatures finally return to seasonal averages after record-breaking winter weather.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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After days of dangerous wind chills and record-breaking cold temperatures across the Northeast, the region is finally beginning to thaw. Major cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia saw wind chills plummet to 10-15 degrees below zero over the weekend, leading to the issuance of rare Extreme Cold Warnings for over 43 million people. The historic cold caused hazardous conditions, including frozen harbors that disrupted ferry service. As temperatures warm up, the region is now facing new challenges like falling and melting ice.

Why it matters

The prolonged cold snap and heavy snowfall have created significant hardships for residents across the Northeast, from power outages and transportation disruptions to dangerous health risks like hypothermia. As the region begins to thaw, it will need to address the lingering effects of the extreme winter weather, including clearing hazardous ice and snow piles.

The details

The Northeast experienced some of its coldest temperatures in recent history, with Watertown, New York recording the second-coldest February temperature on record at -36 degrees. Wind chills dropped to -16 in New York City and -32 in Port Jervis, Long Island. Municipalities opened emergency warming shelters, and New York City reported at least 13 hypothermia-related deaths since January. As the thaw begins, the region is now facing new challenges like falling and melting ice, which has led to the suspension of some ferry services.

  • Over the weekend, the Northeast experienced dangerous wind chills 10-15 degrees below zero.
  • On Sunday, Watertown, New York recorded the second-coldest February temperature in state history at -36 degrees.
  • On Wednesday, some parts of the I-95 corridor, including New York City, are forecast to reach the 40s.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who reported that at least 13 people have died since January due in part to hypothermia.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

As temperatures warm, the city is warning people to watch out for falling and melting ice, among other hazards.

The takeaway

The extreme cold and heavy snowfall have created significant challenges for the Northeast, from power outages and transportation disruptions to dangerous health risks. As the region begins to thaw, it will need to address the lingering effects of the winter weather, including clearing hazardous ice and snow piles.