Mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced a distant studying day Monday for almost one million public faculty college students, with as much as a foot of snow anticipated to fall on town over the weekend. Frigid temperatures could have already contributed to the dying of 5 folks within the metropolis.
“As snowfall begins to blanket our city and conditions become hazardous, closing school buildings is a necessary step to keep New Yorkers safe,” the mayor stated early Sunday in a press launch. He had already dominated out Friday a conventional “snow day,” which wouldn’t have any distant lessons.
Faculties Chancellor Kamar Samuels pressured that town was ready for distant studying, after main points over the past distant studying day in 2024.
“I am grateful to our school communities for the work they’ve done over the last several days — from stress-testing technology to securing buildings and getting virtual classrooms ready,” he stated in an announcement. “This was a difficult decision made with the safety of every family in mind, and I thank you for your flexibility.”
Metropolis employees plow in Fort Greene, Brooklyn throughout a serious snowstorm, Jan. 25, 2026. Credit score: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
5 folks had been discovered useless throughout town earlier than the snow even began to fall early Sunday, Mamdani shared late Saturday, as temperatures fell properly beneath freezing .
“There is no more powerful reminder of the dangers of extreme cold and how vulnerable some of our neighbors are,” he stated throughout a Sunday storm briefing.
By 2 p.m Sunday, some elements of town together with Sheepshead Bay and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn had 8 inches of snow, with extra anticipated to fall throughout the day, in response to the Nationwide Climate Service.
The precipitation would change to sleet and freezing rain by Sunday afternoon.
There might be as much as a foot of snow as soon as it’s lastly over, forecasters stated. Per week of frigid temperatures, the coldest stretch since 2018, ensures the snow sticks round for days, which might additionally trigger disruptions.
Robust wind gusts of as much as 30 mph had been forecasted via Monday.
An MTA bus heads down Dekalb Avenue in Brooklyn throughout a snowstorm, Jan. 25, 2026. Credit score: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Mamdani, in his first logistical check as mayor, started the day visiting with sanitation employees in Bushwick for his or her 6 a.m. shift change. Round 2,500 sanitation employees moved to 12-hour shifts on Saturday for snow elimination preparation.
The mayor urged New Yorkers to remain at dwelling if they might and to restrict journey as a lot as potential. Sanitation crews advised him there have been “far too many” drivers on the roads, making it harder to plow, he stated.
“The single most helpful thing that New Yorkers can do is to stay at home and especially to stay off the roads,” he stated throughout his briefing. .
“Please, if you can avoid it, do not drive.”
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