New Yorkers bracing for a prolonged cold snap, but warmth on the horizon? Probably not.
Punxsutawney Phil's annual prediction of six more weeks of winter is officially in effect, and while it may seem like an eternity before spring arrives, meteorologists say don't hold your breath just yet. Central Park broke the 32-degree barrier for the ninth consecutive day last Monday, but temperatures are still expected to remain frozen throughout the week.
The past nine days have seen highs fail to top 32 degrees in the park, with Monday's temperature barely scraping above freezing at 32.3 degrees. While this may seem like a minor warm-up, forecasters predict that conditions will only get colder before Thursday, when Arctic air sets in and temperatures plummet into the teens.
The city is currently experiencing its longest streak of sub-freezing temperatures since 2018, with highs struggling to reach above 32 for an unprecedented 16 days in 1961. Wind chills are expected to drop into single-digit temperatures overnight, making life outside even more treacherous.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has warned that this winter stretch may be the harshest New York has ever seen, with snow and cold proving particularly stubborn. While city officials have set up warming centers and bus routes across the five boroughs, residents are still being urged to limit their time outdoors and take precautions to protect themselves from the extreme cold.
Tragically, the death toll from this period of extreme cold has already climbed to 16, with hypothermia appearing to be a major contributing factor. Authorities are working to determine the exact causes of death but say outreach efforts to homeless New Yorkers have led to over 860 people being moved into shelters or indoor locations since January 19.
For now, it seems that warmth is still a distant prospect for New York City residents. But one thing's for sure – if Punxsutawney Phil said six more weeks of winter, you can bet your boots it's going to be a long and cold spell ahead.
Punxsutawney Phil's annual prediction of six more weeks of winter is officially in effect, and while it may seem like an eternity before spring arrives, meteorologists say don't hold your breath just yet. Central Park broke the 32-degree barrier for the ninth consecutive day last Monday, but temperatures are still expected to remain frozen throughout the week.
The past nine days have seen highs fail to top 32 degrees in the park, with Monday's temperature barely scraping above freezing at 32.3 degrees. While this may seem like a minor warm-up, forecasters predict that conditions will only get colder before Thursday, when Arctic air sets in and temperatures plummet into the teens.
The city is currently experiencing its longest streak of sub-freezing temperatures since 2018, with highs struggling to reach above 32 for an unprecedented 16 days in 1961. Wind chills are expected to drop into single-digit temperatures overnight, making life outside even more treacherous.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has warned that this winter stretch may be the harshest New York has ever seen, with snow and cold proving particularly stubborn. While city officials have set up warming centers and bus routes across the five boroughs, residents are still being urged to limit their time outdoors and take precautions to protect themselves from the extreme cold.
Tragically, the death toll from this period of extreme cold has already climbed to 16, with hypothermia appearing to be a major contributing factor. Authorities are working to determine the exact causes of death but say outreach efforts to homeless New Yorkers have led to over 860 people being moved into shelters or indoor locations since January 19.
For now, it seems that warmth is still a distant prospect for New York City residents. But one thing's for sure – if Punxsutawney Phil said six more weeks of winter, you can bet your boots it's going to be a long and cold spell ahead.
that's just crazy... i feel bad for the homeless ppl who have no choice but to stay out in this freezing weather... city officials are doing their thing by setting up warming centers, but u can only imagine how tough it must be for them to deal with this on a daily basis... btw, punxsutawney phil is literally the worst predictor ever 
i mean, he's got 90% accuracy rate or something? 
it's been 16 days in the 30s already?! what even is that? i'm just tired of bundling up every morning, tired of slushy sidewalks, and tired of being cold all. the. time 
and i'm not even kidding when i say that if phil said six more weeks, it's gonna be a long cold spell 
but like, can we please just have some spring vibes already?! spring is literally the only thing that gets me through these dark winter months 
️
hope they're staying warm and safe at home, city officials are doing their best tho 
860 ppl already taken shelter, that's amazing 
but yeah, it does seem like spring is a looong way off 
.
. I mean don't get me wrong, I love spring as much as the next person but 6 more weeks of winter? That's just a whole lotta time to binge-watch Netflix and drink hot chocolate 
. but for real tho, 16 people have already lost their lives to the cold 
. btw, has anyone else seen those warming centers and bus routes? gotta be a lifesaver for all the homeless folks out there 
... I mean I know it's just for fun but still. Temperatures have been stuck in the freezer for so long now and 16 people have died? That's not funny anymore 
I feel so bad for the homeless folks who are having to tough it out in shelters... at least they're getting help, but still. And those warming centers and bus routes aren't gonna make up for the fact that people have to venture out into this frozen nightmare every day 
. But hey, at least the city is doing its part with those warming centers and bus routes – that's what I call winter wonderland! 
anyway im just over here waiting for spring to arrive already, like 16 days without a temp above 32 is WILD 
. 16 people already lost their lives? 
Everyone deserves warmth & love 
, but I do know that it's time for the city to step up their game 
. 16 days without temps above 32°F? That's crazy! 
Who needs that kind of stress? 
We need real solutions to keep people safe & warm 
.
! Fingers crossed 
!
what happened to those harsh winters? anywayz, city officials should really step up their game, 16 deaths is crazy, can't we just get a lil warmth already?! 
i'm not holding my breath for punxsutawney phil to be wrong either... six more weeks is sounding like a promise from a broken record 
i feel for all the new yorkers who have to deal with this. and wow, 860 people moved into shelters since january 19? that's a lot