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Death toll rises amid prolonged freeze
Eighteen people have died in New York City during an extended cold snap, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Monday. The city has faced 13 consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures-one of the longest such stretches in six decades.
Cold-related fatalities and emergency measures
At least 10 of the deaths occurred outdoors, according to statements Mamdani made last week. The circumstances of the remaining fatalities remain unclear. Over the weekend, another individual died on the city's streets, prompting the mayor to call the losses "a tragedy."
Since January 19, when a Code Blue emergency was declared-relaxing shelter intake policies-approximately 1,400 people have been placed in shelters. The city has also added 64 hotel rooms to its capacity and deployed at least 150 additional outreach workers.
Weather outlook and safety warnings
While temperatures are expected to rise this week, they will remain below the seasonal average of 4°C (39°F). The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts highs near 0°C (32°F) for most of the week, following persistent freezing conditions on Monday.
An Arctic airmass brought dangerous wind chills-feeling colder than actual temperatures-over the weekend, increasing risks of hypothermia and frostbite. The 13-day streak of sub-zero temperatures, one of the longest since 1963, ended Friday after a brief thaw.
Ongoing hazards and public advisories
New York City's Emergency Management agency warned that melting snow and ice could fall unexpectedly from buildings, while streets and sidewalks may refreeze overnight. Mamdani urged residents to "stay safe, stay indoors, and look out for one another" as cold conditions persist.
"We have been working hard to keep New Yorkers safe, and we will continue to do so. Because it is not forecast to be above 32 degrees [Fahrenheit] until tomorrow, and 35 degrees is hardly balmy weather."
Mayor Zohran Mamdani
