You’re going to wake up Tuesday morning, look out the window at the bright New York City skyline, and think, "Oh, it looks gorgeous out."
Don't let it fool you. Honestly, it’s a trap.
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While the sky is going to be a crisp, textbook blue, the actual weather in nyc tuesday is shaping up to be a brutal reminder that January in the Northeast doesn't play around. We are looking at a forecast that is bone-dry, blindingly sunny, and absolutely freezing. If you've been waiting for a break from the gray slush of earlier this month, this is it, but it comes with a heavy price in the form of wind chill.
The Numbers You Actually Care About
Let's get the raw data out of the way. According to the latest readings for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the high is topping out at a measly 22°F.
That’s the "warm" part of the day.
Once the sun dips behind the Hudson, we’re sliding down to a low of 14°F. Now, 22 degrees might sound manageable if you’re a seasoned local, but you have to factor in the wind. We’re expecting sustained gusts coming out of the west at about 14 mph. In the wind tunnels of Midtown or down by the Battery, that’s going to make it feel like the single digits.
The humidity is hovering around 31%. That is incredibly low for NYC. Basically, your skin is going to feel like parchment paper by noon. Grab the heavy-duty moisturizer and the Chapstick before you leave the apartment. You'll thank me later.
Breakdown of the Day
- Morning: Clear, sunny, and painfully cold. Expect temperatures around 16°F during the morning commute.
- Afternoon: Peak "warmth" hits 22°F around 2:00 PM. It’ll be bright—UV index is a 2—so sunglasses are actually a necessity, not just a fashion choice.
- Evening: The temperature drops fast. By 8:00 PM, we’re already back down to the mid-teens.
Why it's so dry right now
We are sitting in a massive high-pressure cell that’s pushed all the moisture out toward the Atlantic. It’s why there’s a 0% chance of rain or snow. After the weirdly active start to 2026—remember that New Year’s Day snow squall that caught everyone off guard?—this stable air mass is a bit of a relief for the Department of Sanitation, but a nightmare for anyone with a commute.
The air is coming straight down from Central Canada. It hasn't had any time to pick up moisture from the Great Lakes, which is why we aren't seeing any of that lake-effect cloud cover that usually plagues Upstate. It’s just pure, filtered, arctic air.
Survival Tips for the 2026 Freeze
If you have to be outside for more than ten minutes, you’ve gotta layer. This isn't "light jacket" weather.
- The Base Layer Matters: Wear something moisture-wicking. Even though it's cold, if you break a sweat running for the 6 train and then stand on a drafty platform, you’re going to get the chills fast.
- Cover the Extremities: A 14 mph wind at 20 degrees will numb your ears in about six minutes.
- Sunglasses: Seriously. The sun reflecting off the glass buildings in Lower Manhattan is going to be intense.
Travel-wise, things look great. Since there’s zero precipitation in the forecast, the MTA should (theoretically) run on time, and flights at JFK and LaGuardia aren't facing any weather-related ground stops. It’s a "clear and cold" day, which is the best-case scenario for January travel in the city.
Keep an eye on the wind if you're crossing the bridges. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge on a day like Tuesday is basically a test of human endurance. If you're planning a touristy stroll, maybe save it for Wednesday when things might—just might—inch up a few degrees.
Stay warm, keep the coffee hot, and don't let that sunshine trick you into leaving your scarf at home.