NYC Blanketed In Over 10 Inches Of Heavy Snow
Source: The Empire City Wire
Waking Up To Snow
New Yorkers woke up Sunday morning, January 25, 2026, to a sight not seen in nearly half a decade: a city completely transformed by a significant winter storm.
The storm, which began early Sunday morning, intensified over the course of the day, bringing relentless snowfall and blustery winds that created near white-out conditions in many areas.
By dawn, the familiar urban landscape of skyscrapers and bustling streets had been replaced by a serene, snow-covered tableau, momentarily silencing the usual cacophony of city life.
New Yorkers were seen wandering with sleds and skis as they made their way to various hills and mounds across the city’s neighborhoods and parks. Cars got stuck frequently and groups of random pedestrians were spotted banding together to push stranded vehicles out of snow ditches together.
The NYC area was expecting 8 to 12 inches of snow, and the winter storm that slammed half the U.S. certainly delivered on that, dropping just over 10 inches in Central Park by the end of Sunday. Just north of the city, parts of the Hudson Valley saw 18+ inches of snow, the highest totals in the region.
How Did The City Respond?
New York City's major airports reported thousands of canceled flights, and LaGuardia shut down for hours. Closing airports during a major snowstorm is a critical safety measure to prevent aircraft from skidding on icy runways and to ensure that visibility remains high enough for pilots to navigate takeoff and landing safely.
Sanitation crews were working tirelessly since the early hours to clear major roadways, but secondary streets and sidewalks remain challenging to traverse. The Department of Sanitation advised residents to assist by clearing sidewalks in front of their properties.
Various states of emergency were in effect in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut along with dozens of other states across the country. Transit was heavily disrupted with highways and roads being impacted the most.
Mayor Mamdani encouraged New Yorkers to stay indoors. He even recommended reading ‘Heated Rivalry’ as the New York Public Library offered residents with a library card the chance to download Rachel Reid’s queer hockey romance series without a wait.
Source: The Empire City Wire
What’s Next?
While the heavy snowfall presents logistical challenges, it also offers a rare moment of tranquility and beauty in a city known for its relentless pace. As the storm begins to taper off, New Yorkers are left to contend with the aftermath – and perhaps, to savor the fleeting magic of a truly snowy metropolis.
Once the snow moves out of the tristate area, dangerous cold temperatures are expected to remain through at least next week. That means whatever snow falls will stick around and potentially even convert to ice.
New Yorkers are advised to wear snow boots or shoes that have soles with prominent treads to avoid slipping or tripping on ice or slushy conditions. It is only a matter of time before the picture perfect fresh blanket of white snow evolves into the grey slushy nightmare that most New Yorkers are familiar with when commuting to and from the office during bad winter conditions.
