Honestly, if you're standing on a corner in Midtown right now, you aren't thinking about climate models or long-range averages. You're thinking about the bite in the air. As of 1:23 AM on Sunday, January 18, 2026, the current New York City temperature is 30°F.
It’s cold. Not "Polar Vortex" cold, but the kind of damp, cloudy chill that New York specializes in during the depths of January. The humidity is sitting high at 82%, making that 30°F feel a lot more invasive than the number suggests. There is a light breeze coming out of the southwest at 4 mph, barely enough to move the steam rising from the subway grates, but enough to make you zip your coat just a little tighter.
The Snow Alert You Need to Know About
Most people assume a 30-degree night in the city is just standard winter business. But today is different. The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has already pulled the trigger on a Snow Alert. If you looked out your window yesterday, you probably saw the salt spreaders hitting the FDR and the West Side Highway. That wasn't just for show.
We are looking at a fast-moving system today that’s expected to bring the first real accumulating snow of 2026.
The National Weather Service has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. We aren't talking about a blizzard here, but with a high of 34°F and a low of 23°F forecasted for today, the timing is everything. The city is bracing for 1 to 3 inches of snow, with some spots in eastern Queens or southeast Brooklyn potentially seeing up to 4 inches if the bands sit still long enough.
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Why the "Feel" is Different from the Forecast
You’ve probably noticed that 30°F in Manhattan feels nothing like 30°F in the suburbs. It’s the concrete. Or the wind tunnels created by the skyscrapers. Right now, with the cloud cover keeping the day’s heat from escaping and the high humidity, the air feels "heavy."
The real action starts around 5:00 AM.
If you're planning to head out for a bagel run or heading into work early, the snow will likely start as a light dusting before becoming more consistent between 8:00 AM and noon. Because the ground has been relatively "warm" lately—if you can call January in New York warm—the snow might struggle to stick to the streets initially. It'll mostly be a "pretty" snow on the grass and the tops of parked cars. But as the temperature drops toward that 23°F low later tonight, anything that melted is going to turn into a sheet of ice.
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Real Talk: Navigating the Slush
New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol has already warned about travel impacts. Basically, don't be "that person" who gets stuck on the BQE because you thought your all-season tires could handle a slushy mix.
- Public Transit: The MTA usually handles these 1-3 inch dustings fine, but switches can freeze. Check the app before you leave the apartment.
- The "Slush Puddle" Factor: It's 30°F now, but it'll hit 34°F later. That means melting. That means those legendary corner puddles that look like solid ground but are actually six inches deep.
- Walking: The wind is currently 4 mph from the southwest, but it's expected to shift north and pick up to 6 mph. It’s a biting wind. Wear the wool socks.
Beyond the Thermometer
Is this normal? Sorta. The historic average high for mid-January in Central Park is usually around 39°F, with a low of 27°F. We are running a bit colder than the "normal" today. We’re also in a La Niña year, which usually means more variable weather for the Northeast. Some years that means we're bone dry; other years, like this one, it means we get these annoying "clipper" systems that drop just enough snow to mess up your Sunday plans but not enough to give you a "snow day" off work.
Interestingly, the record high for this date was 66°F back in 1990. Imagine that. Walking through Central Park in a t-shirt in January. Not today, though. Today is strictly "heavy parka and a scarf" territory.
What to Do Next
If you’re in the five boroughs, the best move is to stay ahead of the freeze.
Keep an eye on the sky starting around 5:00 AM. Since the DSNY has the "Bladerunner 2.0" tracking system active, you can actually see where the plows and salt spreaders are in real-time if you’re worried about your specific street.
Also, a quick heads-up: tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There’s no trash or recycling collection on Monday, so don't bother dragging your bins through the new snow tonight. Just leave them until Monday evening. If you have to travel, stick to the subways—underground is the only place in the city where the current New York City temperature actually feels like spring.