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Latest winter storm forecast: NYC area could see up to 1 foot of snow this weekend
By
Ryan Kost
Published Jan 21, 2026
Modified Jan 22, 2026
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By
Ryan Kost
Published Jan 21, 2026
Modified Jan 22, 2026
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The New York City metro area could have its snowiest storm in years this weekend, as forecasters say they’re increasingly confident at least 6 inches — and possibly up to a foot — of snow could blanket the city early Sunday into Monday.
A foot of snow would be more snow in one storm than the city has received all winter so far, according to the National Weather Service.
The developing storm is expected to arrive after a sharp blast of Arctic air moves into the region late this week, said Bryan Ramsey, a meteorologist with the service. A strong cold front followed by high pressure sliding in from Canada will drive temperatures below freezing by Friday night, and keep them there for days.
“We are staying below freezing all the way through at least Tuesday night,” Ramsey said, calling it a “very cold” stretch where temperatures could dip into the low teens.
The city’s emergency management agency has been sounding the alarm about the forecast and urging New Yorkers to dress warmly and check on neighbors.
The low temperatures will set the stage for the snowstorm as a low-pressure system passes south of the city on Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
As of Wednesday morning, there was a roughly 80% chance the city would get at least 6 inches of snow, Ramsey said. He added that there were lower but growing odds that the totals in the area could approach a foot. The snow is anticipated to be widespread across the five boroughs, he said.
South Jersey will likely get higher snow accumulations, while North Jersey could experience a slightly lighter event, according to the National Weather Service.
Ramsey said that so far this winter, Central Park has recorded just 9.7 inches of snow in total, including about 2.5 inches this month. A single storm dropping a foot of snow would surpass that entire seasonal total.
The last time Central Park saw more than 6 inches in one event was January 2022, when 8.3 inches fell, according to meteorologists. A foot or more hasn’t been recorded since January 2021, when 17.4 inches piled up.
Forecasters said this weekend’s storm could potentially disrupt commutes on Monday, as well as school and business operations, depending on how quickly the system moves out. New York City officials are telling residents to keep an eye on the forecast throughout the week.
Ramsey said the freezing temperatures predicted through Tuesday night could keep snow on the ground into at least the middle of next week.
“The snow's gonna be sticking around for a while,” he said.
How to stay informed through the snow
- News updates and alerts: Tune in to WNYC 93.9 FM and AM 820, use the WNYC app and check back on Gothamist for regular updates.
- Weather updates: Check forecasts, current conditions and hazard alerts from the National Weather Service in New York and New Jersey.
- Emergency updates: In New York City, text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 for citywide emergency updates in English; text NOTIFYNYCESP for updates in Spanish; or text NOTIFYNYCFRE for updates in French. Alerts are also available on the NotifyNYC app.
- Department of Sanitation: See snow alerts and advisories about salt spreading, service changes and operations updates. Reminder: Property owners can face fines if they don’t clear their own sidewalks. The department is also looking to hire emergency snow shovelers.
- Social updates — NYC: NYC Emergency Management also posts updates on X. You might want to keep an eye on feeds from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
- Social Updates — NJ: New Jersey posts updates on its ReadyNJ feed. You may want to watch out for alerts from the NJ State Police and Gov. Mikie Sherrill as well.
- Transit services: Keep tabs on alerts from the MTA, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit and Amtrak.
- Road conditions: Traffic maps are at 511NY.org and 511NJ.org.
- Power outages — NY: Power companies throughout the region maintain power maps. Check Con Edison for New York City and Westchester, PSEG in Long Island, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. in the Mid-Hudson Valley, and Orange and Rockland Utilities.
- Power outages — NJ: Maps are available from JCP&L, PSE&G and Atlantic City Electric.
- School closings, delays, remote learning: See updates from New York City Public Schools or check on the alerts used by your school district.
- Warming centers: Information on NYC homeless drop-in centers is here. Information on NJ warming centers is here.
- Flooding: When snow melts, waters may swell. Monitor the National Weather Service’s flooding observations and forecasts.
- Be prepared! See the city’s winter guide to staying safe in the cold and planning for winter weather.
Call the city: To report issues or be directed to the right place for general city information, call 311.
Tagged
new york city
snow
weather
Ryan Kost
Ryan Kost is a reporter on the day-of news desk, where he covers breaking news and writes enterprise stories about jails, courts, prosecutors and government accountability. His work focuses on the public institutions that shape life in New York. Before joining the newsroom, he lead a multi-part investigation with Columbia Journalism Investigations and New York Focus into how New York prosecutors handle wrongful conviction claims. He's also been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle, The Associated Press and The Oregonian. Got a tip? Signal: ryankost.20
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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