Honestly, if you were hoping for a quiet January weekend to just lounge around and maybe grab a bagel without slipping on a patch of black ice, New York City has other plans for you.
It's cold. Like, "don't leave your ears exposed" cold.
The New York City weather forecast right now is basically a rollercoaster of gray skies, sudden snow squalls, and that biting wind that seems to hunt for the gaps in your scarf. As of Saturday night, January 17, 2026, we're sitting at a crisp 30°F with a humidity level of 88% that makes the air feel heavy and damp. It’s mostly cloudy, and the wind is barely a whisper at 1 mph from the west, but don't let that stillness fool you.
Things are shifting. Fast.
The Sunday Snow Threat: What’s Actually Happening?
If you've been checking your phone every five minutes, you’ve probably seen the alerts. NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) isn't playing around—they’ve issued a Travel Advisory for Sunday, January 18.
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Why? Because the "first accumulating snow of the year" is finally deciding to show up.
Earlier in the week, the models were basically shrugging their shoulders. Most of the data suggested the coastal storm would stay far enough south to just give us some depressing rain or a few stray flakes. But as of Saturday evening, those models have lurched northward.
Now, we’re looking at a Winter Weather Advisory from the National Weather Service, effective from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday.
The Timeline of the Mess
- 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Snow starts creeping in. It’ll be light at first. If you’re near the water in Brooklyn or Queens, you might see rain initially, but don't get smug. It's changing over.
- 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: This is when it gets real. The snow becomes moderate. Visibility is going to drop.
- 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: A second wave of heavier accumulation is expected before the system finally starts to taper off and head out to sea.
Most of the city is looking at 1 to 3 inches. Some spots in eastern Queens and southeast Brooklyn could see up to 4 inches if the coastal banding gets aggressive. It isn't a blizzard, but in New York, two inches of snow is more than enough to turn the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway into a parking lot.
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Salt, Plows, and the "Bladerunner 2.0"
The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has already called a Snow Alert starting at 4:00 a.m. Sunday. They’ve got something like 700 million pounds of salt ready to go.
They’re also using this new tracking tech called Bladerunner 2.0. It sounds like a sci-fi movie, but it’s basically just a very intense GPS system that tracks every single spreader and plow in real-time. If your street is still a slushy mess by Sunday afternoon, just know that someone in a high-tech command center is likely watching a little dot that represents a salt spreader heading your way.
Why 2026 Feels Different
We’ve had a weird run lately. 2025 ended as the coldest December we've seen since 2010. We also finished the year with a 10-inch rainfall deficit.
We're dry. We're cold. And the ground is finally chilled enough that this snow actually has a chance of sticking to the pavement rather than just melting on contact.
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Sunday’s high is only hitting 35°F, and with a low of 25°F, whatever falls is going to freeze solid by Monday morning. If you have to commute on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, expect the "slush puddle jump" to be your primary form of exercise.
Monday and Beyond: The Frigid Turn
Monday, January 19, isn't looking much warmer. We’re topping out at 33°F with mostly sunny skies, which sounds nice until you realize the low is 22°F.
Then Tuesday hits.
Tuesday is going to be the "stay inside and order soup" day. We're looking at a high of only 24°F and a bone-chilling low of 16°F. The wind chills will likely drop into the single digits. Honestly, if you don't have a high-quality puffer jacket by now, Tuesday is going to be a very long day for you.
Survival Guide: What to Wear in This Mess
Fashion in NYC during a January snow event is less about "runway" and more about "not getting hypothermia." That said, people still try.
- Waterproof Boots are Non-Negotiable. Forget your cool suede loafers or those canvas sneakers. The corner of 5th and 42nd will have a six-inch deep lake of gray slush by Sunday noon. You need Sorel, Uggs with a heavy sole, or something seam-sealed.
- The "Blanket Scarf" is a Life Saver. The wind tunnels in Midtown are brutal. A thick, oversized scarf acts as a literal shield for your face.
- Layers, But Make Them Tech. Start with a thermal base layer. Uniqlo’s Heattech is basically the unofficial uniform of the city right now. Add a fleece or a cashmere sweater, then your heavy coat.
- Cover Your Head. You lose a massive amount of heat through your head. A wool beanie or a faux-fur lined hat isn't just a style choice; it's a survival tool when it's 25°F outside.
Actionable Next Steps for New Yorkers
If you're reading this while the sky is still that ominous "it's about to snow" white, here's what you need to do:
- Check on your neighbors. Especially the elderly or those in basement apartments. NYCEM has issued a Code Blue, meaning no one seeking shelter will be turned away. If you see someone who looks like they're struggling in the cold, call 311.
- Clear your tailpipe. If you're digging your car out on Sunday evening, make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow before you start the engine to avoid carbon monoxide buildup.
- Download Notify NYC. Things change fast. A "dusting" can turn into three inches in two hours. Get the alerts directly so you aren't standing on a subway platform waiting for a train that's been delayed by a "signal problem" caused by the cold.
- Plan for Trash Delays. Since Monday is a holiday, there’s no trash collection anyway. But with the snow, expect some delays on Tuesday and Wednesday as DSNY shifts from "snow mode" back to "garbage mode."
- Salt your sidewalk. If you own a building or a house, you’re legally required to clear the path. Do it early before the Sunday night freeze turns that slush into a sheet of glass.