Monday in New York is looking like one of those classic "trick" winter days. You wake up, see the sun hitting the glass of the skyscrapers, and think maybe, just maybe, January is finally cutting us some slack. Honestly? Don't be fooled by the glare.
While the city will technically be mostly sunny for a good chunk of the day, the air is going to have a serious bite to it. We’re looking at a high of 33°F, which is basically right at the freezing mark. If you've lived here long enough, you know that 33°F with a breeze feels a whole lot different than a still 33°F. And speaking of breeze, we’ve got winds coming in from the southwest at about 12 mph. It’s not a gale, but it’s enough to make that walk to the subway feel twice as long.
The Cold Reality of the Monday Forecast
Let's talk numbers because they matter when you're deciding between the light coat and the heavy parka. The low is hitting 21°F on Monday night. That’s a sharp drop. If you're staying out late—maybe grabbing dinner in the Village or heading back from a late shift—that 21-degree mark is going to feel pretty aggressive.
The humidity is hovering around 50%. Usually, we don't think about humidity in the winter unless it’s making the cold "wet" and bone-chilling, but 50% is fairly dry for NYC. It means the air won't have that heavy, damp feel, but your skin is definitely going to feel it.
Will It Actually Snow?
This is the part everyone checks first. There’s a 15% chance of snow during the day. In "weather-speak," that basically means don't expect a winter wonderland. It’s more likely to be a few stray flakes or a quick flurry that disappears before it even hits the pavement.
- Daytime Snow Chance: 15% (Mostly negligible)
- Nighttime Snow Chance: 5% (Basically zero)
- Sky Condition: Mostly sunny shifting to partly cloudy at night
If you were hoping for a snow day to extend the long weekend (it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, after all), you’re probably out of luck. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is already on top of things, having issued advisories earlier in the weekend, but for Monday specifically, the "snow event" is looking more like a "no event."
The Infrastructure Side of the Shivers
It's not just about your outfit. Large-scale systems are reacting to this cold snap. PJM Interconnection, which handles a massive chunk of the electric grid for the region, has already issued Cold Weather Alerts for Monday. They do this when they expect the mercury to dip enough that electricity demand spikes.
When the temps hit these levels, the grid operators start calling in extra staff and making sure power plants—especially the natural gas ones—don't freeze up. It's a routine move, but it shows that while 33°F sounds "normal" for January, the sustained cold is enough to put the city’s hardware on high alert.
Travel and Transit Vibes
Since it’s a holiday, the city is going to move a bit differently.
The DSNY has already confirmed there will be no trash or recycling collection on Monday. If you're one of those people who habitually drags the bins out on Sunday night, save yourself the effort.
The sun might be out, but with a UV index of only 2, you’re not catching a tan. You are, however, catching the glare. If you're driving over the Verrazzano or heading up the West Side Highway, that low January sun combined with clear skies can be blinding.
🔗 Read more: Philadelphia Weather Five Day: Why You Should Care About Sunday
What to Actually Do
- Layer like a pro: The high is 33°F but the low is 21°F. If you leave the house at noon and stay out until 8 PM, you're experiencing a 12-degree swing. A scarf isn't optional; it's a requirement.
- Moisturize: That 50% humidity and 12 mph wind is a recipe for chapped everything.
- Check the pipes: If you live in an older brownstone with poorly insulated outer walls, these 20-degree nights are when things start to get dicey.
- Skip the car: If you don't need to drive, don't. Between holiday bridge traffic and the biting wind at the gas pump, the train is just a better bet.
Monday is basically a reminder that New York winters are more about the grind than the glamour. It’s a dry, bright, cold day that requires a bit of prep but won't ruin your plans as long as you respect the temperature drop.