Extreme cold in New York City leaves 18 dead

February 9, 2026

New York City has experienced a deadly cold snap since late January, with 18 fatalities attributed to the extreme weather conditions according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The city endured thirteen consecutive days of freezing temperatures at or below 0°C (32°F), marking one of the longest such periods in approximately sixty years. In response, city officials declared a Code Blue emergency on January 19th, which eased shelter admission requirements and resulted in approximately 1,400 people being placed in shelters along with added hotel capacity.

Who is affected

18 people who died during the cold snap (at least 10 found outdoors)
Homeless population in New York City
Families of those who died
Approximately 1,400 people placed into emergency shelters
New York City residents generally

What action is being taken

Code Blue emergency remains in effect with relaxed homeless shelter intake policies
About 1,400 shelter placements have been made
64 additional hotel rooms have been added to shelter capacity
At least 150 additional outreach workers are deployed on the streets
NYC Emergency Management is issuing safety warnings about refreezing conditions and falling ice/snow

Why it matters

This extreme cold period represents one of the longest sustained freezing stretches New York City has experienced in six decades, creating life-threatening conditions particularly for vulnerable homeless populations. The 18 deaths highlight the deadly consequences of extreme weather in urban environments and demonstrate the critical need for emergency shelter services and outreach during dangerous cold snaps. The event underscores how climate extremes can overwhelm even well-resourced cities and disproportionately impact unhoused individuals.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC