Winter in Manhattan usually feels like a battle against the wind tunnels of 6th Avenue, but today is hitting a bit different. Honestly, if you looked out your window this morning, you probably saw that the sky has finally made good on its threats. We are currently sitting right at 32°F with a humidity level of 93% that makes the air feel thick enough to chew.
A heavy snow storm is currently parked over the city.
The National Weather Service has been sounding the alarm with a Winter Weather Advisory, and they aren't kidding. We're looking at a high of 34°F today, Sunday, January 18, but the real story is the 95% chance of snow during the day. It’s that wet, heavy slush that ruins your boots and makes the subway stairs a death trap.
Basically, the "new york five day forecast" is a rollercoaster of falling flakes and plunging mercury.
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The Immediate Mess and Monday’s Reality Check
If you're planning on ordering takeout and staying under a weighted blanket today, you've made the right choice. The snow is expected to taper off into a cloudy night with a low of 23°F. That 45% chance of evening snow might not sound like much, but with temperatures dropping, anything left on the ground is going to turn into a sheet of ice.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani already put out the word: sanitation crews are out, but the roads are going to be gross.
Monday, January 19, brings a total vibe shift. The clouds break, the sun comes out, and we hit a high of 32°F. It sounds nice, right? Sorta. The southwest wind is going to be kicking at 14 mph, making that "sunny" day feel significantly more biting than the numbers suggest. By Monday night, we're looking at a clear sky and a low of 15°F.
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That is "freeze the pipes" territory for some of the older brownstones.
The Mid-Week Arctic Plunge
Tuesday is when the polar vortex really decides to remind us who's boss. We’re talking about a high of only 21°F. It’ll be sunny, but that’s the kind of "fake sun" that offers zero warmth while you're waiting for the M15 bus. The west wind at 13 mph will bring wind chills down into the single digits.
Nighttime on Tuesday stays brutal with a low of 14°F.
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Wednesday, January 21, sees a slight recovery—if you can call it that. We climb back up to a high of 34°F under mostly cloudy skies. It’s a brief reprieve before the city settles into a more manageable winter rhythm.
Looking Toward Thursday’s Thaw
By the time we hit Thursday, January 22, the city finally starts to shake off the deep freeze. We are looking at a high of 40°F. It's not exactly tropical, but compared to 21°F, it’s going to feel like a heatwave. The sky should be sunny with just a 10% chance of a stray flake.
The low will hover around 23°F, which is exactly where we started this whole mess on Sunday.
How to Handle the Next 120 Hours
Don't let the "sunny" icons on your app fool you for Monday and Tuesday; the wind is the real protagonist here. If you're commuting, the transition from Sunday's slush to Monday's ice is the biggest hazard.
- Check on your neighbors. With a Code Blue in effect and lows hitting 14°F, the city’s most vulnerable need the outreach teams. If you see someone in need, call 311.
- Salt your walk early. Sunday night’s drop from 34°F to 23°F is a recipe for black ice. Getting the salt down before the freeze hits at sundown will save your shins later.
- Layer for wind, not just temp. That 14 mph southwest wind on Monday will cut right through a standard wool coat. Break out the technical gear or a heavy puffer.
- Watch the melt-refreeze cycle. Thursday's 40°F high will melt a lot of the initial storm's remnants, but the 23°F overnight low means Friday morning will be another skating rink.
The city is resilient, but this specific stretch of weather is less about the volume of snow and more about the rapid-fire temperature swings. Stay warm, stay dry, and maybe skip the bike commute until Wednesday.