Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
How to make the most of the snowstorm headed for NYC this weekend
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Jan 24, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Jan 24, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A winter storm has New Yorkers bracing for what could be the snowiest weekend in years.
If a foot of snow falls in Central Park, it would be the biggest single-storm accumulation since 2021, according to meteorologists.
While officials are warning of potential power outages, frozen pipes and disruptions to schools and transportation, some residents are looking forward to the wintry weather.
Just ask Kati and Heikki Aho, a Finnish couple living in Brooklyn. They already have plans to take their 3- and 6-year-old sons sledding.
“When we were younger, the winters were long and there was always snow,” Kati said. “So it wasn’t a question like we have here of whether the snow is coming or not, it was always there. We were just outside, no matter what the weather was.”
The couple, who have each lived in New York for more than a decade, see the occasional snow day as a rare chance to have fun.
“The key is to wear the right clothes. After that? You can do whatever you want,” Heikki said.
Here are a few ways to enjoy the snow and cold this weekend:
Sledding and skiing in city parks
With several inches of snow projected, New Yorkers can grab sleds or cross-country skis and turn their neighborhood parks into winter playgrounds.
Central Park and Prospect Park are often top choices for an afternoon of sledding or skiing. You can find a list of popular sledding spots in the city here.
Hit the ice at an outdoor skating rink
The storm could be just the excuse to dust off your skates. Outdoor rinks like the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park and the Rink at Rockefeller Center offer rentals and scenic spots for a spin.
The Bryant Park rink brought in $8.5 million during the 2022-23 season, Gothamist previously reported.
Warm up at a sauna or bathhouse
Saunas and bathhouses have been gaining popularity in the city, with new locations and memberships at spots like Bathhouse and The Well.
Whether you’re a newcomer or a regular, this weekend could be your chance to break a sweat. You might want to skip the cold plunge, though.
Sip hot chocolate at a cozy café
Not in the mood for winter sports? Hunt down the city’s best hot chocolate.
Glace on the Upper East Side serves a roughly $10 hot cocoa that went viral on social media. Or check out Angelina, the Parisian tearoom near Bryant Park that opened its first New York location in 2020.
Tagged
Existing in New York City
new york city
parks
sledding
snow
weather
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .