by New York City, NY – New Yorkers rushed to stock up on groceries and winter essentials Saturday as arctic air tightened its grip on the city ahead of Winter Storm Fern, with officials warning that dangerous conditions could arrive overnight. Mayor Mamdani urged residents to avoid travel entirely, saying the safest plan is to stay home as snow totals could reach 8 inches or more, with forecasters warning the storm could push totals even higher.
The city expects the first snow to begin early Sunday morning, with bitter cold and potentially treacherous road conditions lasting into Monday, while agencies across NYC activate emergency response plans.
Overview
As temperatures hovered around 13 degrees Saturday, the mayor delivered a blunt message to residents: don’t risk it.
“If you can avoid it, do not drive. Do not travel. Do not do anything that could potentially place you or your loved ones in danger,” Mayor Mamdani said before noon. “Instead, I urge every New Yorker who can to put a warm sweater on. Turn on the TV. Watch ‘Mission Impossible’ for the 10th time. Above all, to stay inside.”
City officials warned that the cold snap expected next week could be the most sustained stretch of extreme low temperatures New York City has experienced in roughly eight years, intensifying concerns about icy roads, delayed emergency response times, and potential strain on vulnerable populations.
The mayor said the city is preparing for at least 8 inches of snow, calling on residents to take the storm seriously.
“But New York, whatever comes for it, the city is ready,” he said.
Timeline of Events
Forecasts suggest the storm will arrive quickly and build through the day Sunday.
The first flurries are expected around 3 a.m. Sunday, with snow continuing through Sunday and tapering off around midday Monday, according to the expected storm timeline. Another forecast noted snow could begin around 4 a.m. Sunday, placing the most dangerous period during early morning travel hours when visibility is low and roads may not yet be fully treated.
The National Weather Service warned that the final total could reach 14 inches in New York City by Monday, which would make it the city’s biggest snow total since 2021. AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said forecast totals are still sensitive to whether the storm stays mostly snow or mixes with sleet.
“A total for New York City for our forecast is 4 to 8 inches, but if we see more snow rather than a mixed sleet, there’s a chance that that could approach a foot of snow,” Glenny said.
Forecasters also warned that snow could transition into sleet early Sunday afternoon, raising the risk of slick roads and hazardous driving conditions even if snowfall rates decrease.
Ahead of the storm, long lines formed outside grocery stores as shoppers grabbed last-minute items, with some shelves already wiped clean by Saturday.
Government Response and Emergency Preparations
New York’s response ramped up Friday, when Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency ahead of the major snowstorm. The mayor said multiple city departments had already activated severe weather plans and would remain on standby overnight, including Sanitation, Parks, Emergency Management, and the MTA.
With dangerous cold arriving, the mayor said the city has already issued a Code Blue, which loosens capacity restrictions in homeless shelters to ensure people are not turned away during freezing temperatures.
Public schools are preparing for the possibility of remote learning on Monday, depending on how the storm impacts travel and safety. The city is expected to decide by Sunday at 12 p.m. whether students will attend classes in person Monday or switch to remote instruction.
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