Major Winter Storm Paralyzes New York And Tri State

New York City and the greater Tri-State Area found themselves at the mercy of a formidable winter storm on Sunday, January 25, 2026, with the National Weather Service warning of “considerable disruption to transportation and daily life.” Predictions of 6 to 12 inches of snow became a reality across the region, as frigid temperatures and a wintry mix blanketed the metro area and beyond, creating treacherous conditions and prompting a coordinated emergency response from city and state officials.

By Sunday afternoon, Williamsburg in Brooklyn had recorded 9.7 inches of snow, while areas in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and northern New Jersey were buried under more than a foot. Levittown, New York, saw 12.1 inches, and Wayne, New Jersey, matched that with a full foot on the ground. The storm, described by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill as “the likes of which we haven't seen in probably about a decade,” brought near whiteout conditions and the coldest sustained temperatures the region had experienced in years, according to CBS News New York.

As the snow intensified, city agencies sprang into action. The New York City Police Department and Fire Department maintained full operational capacity, while the Department of Sanitation prepared to deploy its fleet of over 2,200 plows once two inches of snow had accumulated. Commissioner Javier Lojan explained on CBS News New York, “We initiated full spreading operations around 5 a.m. and we're going to continue that throughout the city. There will be a long day ahead, but I think we'll be in good shape.” The Department of Transportation worked closely with Sanitation to keep roads clear, and the MTA readied for delays, outfitting buses with chains and prepping snow-fighting trains to keep outdoor subway tracks operational.

Despite these efforts, travel was severely hampered. More than 2,700 flights were canceled at the city’s major airports, and LaGuardia Airport was shut down entirely. The Federal Aviation Administration announced ground stops at both LaGuardia and JFK, while Newark Liberty International Airport saw nearly 900 cancellations. NJ Transit suspended all service for the day, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal closed its doors. The MTA kept subways and buses running on a modified weekend schedule, but delays were inevitable and officials urged New Yorkers to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency, deploying 5,500 personnel to restore power in the event of outages and activating 200 National Guard members across the state. “This is a life-threatening event,” Hochul warned on CBS News New York. “It is going to be the coldest temperatures that we've seen across many parts of the entire state in years.” She urged employers to allow remote work on Monday to keep people off the roads, emphasizing the dangers posed by icy conditions and the potential for power outages as heavy ice weighed down power lines.

In New Jersey, Governor Sherrill echoed these concerns, noting, “It is icing up. It is going to get icy quickly overnight.” She praised residents for staying off the roads, which allowed emergency responders to operate more effectively, and highlighted the state’s preparations, including mutual aid for power restoration and around-the-clock plowing and salting operations. “If there's any way you can telework, or delay going to work, or work from home, that would be the best choice tomorrow morning,” Sherrill advised.

The storm’s impact wasn’t limited to transportation. The New York State and federal courts closed for all but emergency applications, and Broadway shows—including “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” and “Heathers the Musical”—canceled Sunday performances. NYC Ferry service was suspended due to low visibility, and grocery and hardware stores across the city saw long lines as residents stocked up on essentials, with store employees struggling to keep shelves filled. Attorney General Letitia James warned businesses against price gouging, reminding the public that violations could incur penalties of up to $25,000 per incident.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, seen shoveling snow alongside city workers, became the face of the city’s response. At a press conference, he urged New Yorkers to “take a breath and stay home, stay indoors, stay off the roads, watch the snow come down, watch the worst possible reality show you can find and take some time away from the roads.” He emphasized the importance of staying off the roads to allow emergency crews to work efficiently, stating, “The single most helpful thing that New Yorkers can do is to avoid driving.”

As for schools, the mayor’s announcement marked a shift from nostalgia about his own childhood snow days to the realities of the current school calendar. With New York state law mandating 180 instructional days per year and the 2025-26 calendar barely meeting that requirement, snow days as a cherished tradition have become rare. High schoolers and some middle schoolers were already scheduled to be off Monday for teacher professional development, but K-8 students were directed to remote learning. “I’m very confident … this is going to be successful,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, noting that the city had increased its capacity to handle up to one million simultaneous logins and conducted stress tests to avoid the glitches that plagued remote learning in the past. The mayor added, “So if you do see me, feel free to throw a snowball at me,” acknowledging the disappointment of students missing out on a traditional snow day.

For those without shelter, the city opened ten warming centers—two in each borough—at school buildings, providing food and warmth through at least Monday evening. The city’s Code Blue policy remained in effect, ensuring no one would be turned away from shelters. “Yesterday alone, before the snow had even begun to come down, at least five New Yorkers passed away and were found outside,” Mamdani said, underscoring the deadly risk posed by the extreme cold.

Despite the hazards, many New Yorkers made the most of the storm, with sledding in Central Park, sightseeing in Times Square, and even dogs enjoying the snowy sidewalks. Yet officials continued to stress caution, warning that the combination of lingering snow, ice, and frigid temperatures would keep conditions dangerous into Monday and beyond. As Governor Hochul put it, “We are anticipating the longest cold stretch and the highest snow totals the state has seen in several years.”

While the city’s vast resources and coordinated efforts helped mitigate the worst of the storm’s impact, the day served as a stark reminder of nature’s power and the importance of community resilience in the face of adversity.