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Dear New Yorkers,

The forecast for Sunday’s winter storm is 8 to 14 inches of snow, and New Yorkers woke up today to bone-chilling temperatures expected to linger for days.

It’s the first proper snowstorm we’ve seen in years, and a number of systems are swinging into gear to face it:

The MTA’s specialty snow equipment is already out on the tracks. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing down his first blizzard — and says we’re prepared. Meanwhile, voting to fill his old Assembly seat in Queens has been suspended on Sunday and Monday because of the storm. Code Blue protocols are in effect, meaning the city’s emergency outreach workers follow special protocols to ensure homeless New Yorkers stay safe in dangerously cold weather.

A homeless man sleeps on the street in the Financial District, Jan. 14, 2025.

If you see someone who may need help during the cold weather, read our guide on what happens when you call 311 for help during a Code Blue. In addition to calling 311, our reporter Haidee Chu spoke to experts about what to ask unsheltered people who may need assistance, including:

Are you staying warm? Can I pick you up some hand warmers or blankets? Have you had enough to eat? What’s your plan for tonight if it gets colder?

What else should you know to keep yourself and your neighbors safe and warm? We’ve got some tips:

Make sure you’re using your space heater correctly, one of several winter hazards to avoid. Beware of exploding manholes. (It’s rare, but more common in winter with a mixture of water and salt.) Don’t forget, your landlord is required by law to keep your apartment heated to at least 62 degrees at night. Here’s how to report your landlord if they’re being stingy with the thermostat.  Icy sidewalks? Here’s how to figure out who’s responsible for clearing them.

And lastly: Sorry, kids, there’s no snow day on Monday.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Stay warm!

Love,

THE CITY

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