Honestly, New York weather is a mood. One minute you're dodging a slush puddle in Midtown, and the next, you're squinting at a sun that has absolutely no intention of warming you up. If you're looking at the 10 day forecast New York right now, you're probably seeing a whole lot of "gray" on your screen. But here’s the thing: NYC in late January isn't just cold; it’s a logistical challenge that involves salt spreaders, black ice, and the strategic layering of Uniqlo Heattech.
We're currently in the thick of a classic January "Polar Vortex" stretch.
Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, the city is under a Snow Alert. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has already deployed a small army of salt spreaders because we're expecting a "second round" of snow to drop between 1 and 3 inches across the five boroughs. If you’re in eastern Queens or southeast Brooklyn, you might even see up to 4 inches. It’s not a blizzard, but it’s enough to make the subway stairs a nightmare.
The Frigid Reality of Next Week
Forget "mild." The next ten days are basically a descending staircase into a freezer.
Monday, January 19, which happens to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day, will actually be quite pretty—if you can ignore the wind chill. We’re looking at a high of 32°F and a low of 21°F. It’ll be sunny, but that southwest wind at 9 mph will bite. Also, heads up: there’s no trash or recycling collection on the holiday, and with the snow from Sunday sitting around, Monday night is going to be a black ice festival as temperatures plummet.
Then comes Tuesday.
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Tuesday, January 20, is when the "real" winter hits. We’re talking a high of only 24°F and a low of 15°F. That’s the kind of cold that makes your phone battery die in twenty minutes while you're trying to call an Uber. The wind picks up to 13 mph from the west, making the "feels like" temperature hover somewhere in the single digits.
Mid-Week Fluctuations
- Wednesday, Jan 21: A slight "warm-up" to 31°F, but it’ll be mostly cloudy. It’s that damp, heavy cold that gets into your bones.
- Thursday, Jan 22: This is the peak of the week, hitting 37°F. It’s basically a heatwave compared to Tuesday. If you have errands that involve being outside for more than ten minutes, do them Thursday.
- Friday, Jan 23: Back down to 29°F. Mostly cloudy. Again.
The Polar Plunge (Round Three)
By next weekend, the "third wave" of Arctic air that meteorologists have been tracking will likely arrive. While Saturday, January 24, starts with some light snow and a high of 32°F, the following days—Sunday through Tuesday, January 27—will see highs struggling to stay in the 20s. Specifically, Tuesday, January 27, is looking particularly brutal with a high of 21°F and northwest winds gusting up to 16 mph.
The National Weather Service and the "First Alert" teams are watching this stretch closely. There’s a persistent "lobe" of the polar vortex hanging out over the Northeast right now. This means even when the sun comes out, the air remains frigid because it’s being pulled directly down from the Arctic.
Surviving the NYC Slush
If you're visiting or just trying to get to work without ruining your shoes, you need a plan. New York City uses roughly 700 million pounds of salt a year. That salt is great for melting ice, but it’s a disaster for leather boots.
Pro-tip: Don't wear your nice Chelsea boots if there's any white residue on the sidewalk. That’s salt, and it will leave permanent white rings on your shoes. Stick to waterproof, lug-sole boots. If you have to wear sneakers, make sure they’re the "shield" or waterproof variety. Wet socks in 20-degree weather is a recipe for a very bad day.
Layering Like a Local
The secret isn't one giant coat. It’s three distinct layers.
- The Base: Synthetic or wool. No cotton. Cotton traps sweat and keeps it cold against your skin.
- The Mid: A light down vest or a cashmere sweater. This is the "insulator."
- The Shell: A wind-blocking parka. If it’s not windproof, the 16 mph gusts on 5th Avenue will cut right through you.
Looking Further Ahead
The Farmers' Almanac and other long-range outlooks suggest this "coldest period" will last through the end of January. While this winter started out relatively mild, we are now paying the "winter tax."
We might see another potential "winter punch" or a more significant storm toward the end of the month as this cold air interacts with moisture coming up the coast. For now, the 10 day forecast New York is less about "The Big One" and more about a relentless, grinding cold.
Stay off the roads during active snow—like what we’re seeing this Sunday morning—because the "warm" ground from the previous week's thaw is making the bottom layer of snow turn into a sheet of ice almost instantly.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the DSNY Snow Risk Map if you're worried about street parking or plowing.
- Dig out your "real" winter gloves; the thin tech-touch ones won't cut it when it's 15°F on Tuesday.
- If you’re a New York resident, remember that Monday (MLK Day) has no trash pickup; put your bins out Tuesday evening instead.
- Keep an eye on the "RealFeel" rather than the high temperature; the wind is the real enemy in this 10-day stretch.