As Mayor Mamdani dashed youngsters’ hopes of a snow day subsequent week, the MTA stated it was getting ready for potential buildup of snow and ice on aboveground subway traces.
The MTA has staged 4 of its eight de-icer trains all through the system. They may start working alongside aboveground traces tomorrow morning. As soon as precipitation begins, the trains will proceed working in between passenger trains to maintain the third rail clear. As snow falls, the MTA’s ten snowblower trains may even assist maintain the rails clear.
In the meantime Friday, Mamdani instructed college students and oldsters to be prepared for a day of digital studying on Monday if the weekend’s storm makes an in-person day inconceivable. Schoolchildren are being despatched house on Friday with their gadgets to be prepared for distant studying, and oldsters will know by midday on Sunday whether or not their tots can be staying house or not, the mayor stated at a storm briefing on Friday.
Salt is saved to be used on icy roads in New York, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Picture/Seth Wenig)
The storm, forecast to be the most important in practically 5 years, may dump greater than a foot of snow on the 5 boroughs, with snowfall beginning Saturday night and persevering with into Monday. The Large Apple may see between eight and 18 inches of snow, Mamdani stated.
Two-thousand sanitation employees will begin prolonged 12-hour shifts on Saturday to prep, salt and brine the streets, and when snowfall hits two inches, an additional 700 salt spreaders and a pair of,200 snowplows can be deployed, Mamdani stated.
Different businesses, just like the Parks Division are additionally able to pitch in on plowing efforts, and the mayor’s workplace is in communications with the MTA and others, as effectively, Mamdani stated.
“I feel quite confident in the abilities of those around me and in those who work for the city,” Mamdani stated. “And frankly, I’m thankful for their work… It’s going to be round the clock from a number of different agencies.”
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani holds a press convention at New York Metropolis Emergency Administration Division to debate the Metropolis’s preparations for the upcoming snowstorm on Friday, January 23, 2026. (Michael Appleton / Mayoral Pictures Workplace)
However that doesn’t imply NYC youngsters can be out sledding Monday as a substitute of being in courses, albeit remotely.
“We take it very seriously when we call for a remote school day, because we know that it has an impact on parents’ lives,” Mamdani stated. “So we want to both be respectful of their lives and give them enough time to make the plans, if necessary for a change.”
“They apparently made some great points,” Mamdani quipped in an early morning look on NY1.
New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani is briefed on Metropolis winter climate response plans by senior metropolis company officers and state companions at New York Metropolis Emergency Administration Division forward of the upcoming snowstorm on Friday, January 23, 2026. (Michael Appleton / Mayoral Pictures Workplace)
Colleges Chancellor Kamar Samuels stated that colleges was working to “stress test” the system to make sure college students can go surfing with none technical meltdowns.
“I’m very, very confident, after having worked with so many of our partners to make sure that this is going to be successful in the login process,” he stated, nodding to a chaotic snow day in 2024 the place college students had points accessing on-line courses.
Temperatures are forecast to plunge into the teenagers on Friday night and keep beneath freezing all over Wednesday.
Beginning Friday night, a Code Blue can be in impact, which means outreach employees will canvas the streets to assist homeless New Yorkers get to heat.
Preparations for the upcoming snowstorm are pictured on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Michael Appleton / Mayoral Pictures Workplace)
Gov. Hochul declared a state of emergency for the entire state on Friday. Mamdani directed New Yorkers to remain inside as a lot as attainable through the storm.
“Watch the snow come down, watch the worst possible reality TV show you can find, and take some time away from the roads, because while this is going to be a big storm,” Mamdani stated.
With Cayla Bamberger
