New York City is bracing itself for a brutal weekend of cold weather that could lead to frostbite in as little as 30 minutes. Temperatures are expected to plummet to levels of up to 15 degrees below zero, with wind chills making the air feel even colder.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold warning for the city, advising people to stay indoors and limit their time outside. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pleaded with New Yorkers to take precautions, urging them to dress warmly and prioritize their safety.
Gothamist reported on Saturday evening that around 20 people huddled together in a mobile warming center outside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, wrapped in blankets and seeking refuge from the cold. However, some individuals were not aware of this resource, highlighting a communication breakdown that Mayor Mamdani acknowledged was critical to rectify.
Mike Lopez, who works outdoors all day, highlighted his struggles with asthma exacerbated by the extreme cold and people vaping in public spaces. He expressed frustration at the lack of resources available for those struggling with these issues.
Mayor Mamdani has launched an "all-hands-on-deck" effort to address the crisis, including reopening schools as warming centers and deploying outreach workers to reach vulnerable populations. The city is also operating 65 warming facilities in all, as well as adding new hotel shelter units for people hesitant to enter congregate settings.
Despite these efforts, concerns remain about access to resources, with Gothamist reporting that even police officers were unaware of the warming center outside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal on a recent night. The city is working to address this issue by installing clear signage and ensuring that everyone knows where to find assistance.
The National Weather Service has warned of wind gusts up to 50 mph, which could cause significant disruptions. Driving conditions are expected to be hazardous, and residents are advised to exercise caution when traveling.
Temperatures are forecasted to reach highs around the mid-30s on Monday, indicating a gradual return to milder weather. However, for now, New Yorkers must prioritize their safety and take necessary precautions to stay warm.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold warning for the city, advising people to stay indoors and limit their time outside. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pleaded with New Yorkers to take precautions, urging them to dress warmly and prioritize their safety.
Gothamist reported on Saturday evening that around 20 people huddled together in a mobile warming center outside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, wrapped in blankets and seeking refuge from the cold. However, some individuals were not aware of this resource, highlighting a communication breakdown that Mayor Mamdani acknowledged was critical to rectify.
Mike Lopez, who works outdoors all day, highlighted his struggles with asthma exacerbated by the extreme cold and people vaping in public spaces. He expressed frustration at the lack of resources available for those struggling with these issues.
Mayor Mamdani has launched an "all-hands-on-deck" effort to address the crisis, including reopening schools as warming centers and deploying outreach workers to reach vulnerable populations. The city is also operating 65 warming facilities in all, as well as adding new hotel shelter units for people hesitant to enter congregate settings.
Despite these efforts, concerns remain about access to resources, with Gothamist reporting that even police officers were unaware of the warming center outside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal on a recent night. The city is working to address this issue by installing clear signage and ensuring that everyone knows where to find assistance.
The National Weather Service has warned of wind gusts up to 50 mph, which could cause significant disruptions. Driving conditions are expected to be hazardous, and residents are advised to exercise caution when traveling.
Temperatures are forecasted to reach highs around the mid-30s on Monday, indicating a gradual return to milder weather. However, for now, New Yorkers must prioritize their safety and take necessary precautions to stay warm.
! I'm not surprised though, the forecast was saying something crazy like temps could drop that low 30 mins after sunrise lol. So serious though, this cold snap is a whole different story. People gotta be careful out there, it's not just the frostbite risk but also asthma attacks & vaping-related health issues 
. I'm all for the city's "all-hands-on-deck" effort, reopening schools as warming centers is genius! They should also give more resources to outreach workers tho, some people might be too proud to accept help 
. The police officers not knowing about that warming center outside the ferry terminal? 
That's a major fail! Anyway, fingers crossed temps come back up by Monday 
. I feel bad for people who have asthma like Mike Lopez, it's so important to have resources available for them. The city is doing a lot to address the issue, but I hope they can get some of these warming centers and hotel shelter units up ASAP 
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The mayor's efforts to raise awareness are good, but we need to make sure everyone knows where to go for help. And with wind gusts up to 50mph, it's gonna be a wild ride on the roads 
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. And I love how the city is getting more hotel shelter units in place, it'll make a big difference for people who are hesitant to go into congregate settings 
. Let's hope we can get through this weekend safely and warm 
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. like, how do u not know where 2 find help wen ur struggling? it's insane that police officers rnt even informed 
. we need better comms systems in place 4 emergencies like this. also, can't believe people r vaping in public spaces when ppl r literally freezing outside 
. asthma is no joke & extreme cold can exacerbate conditions big time. gotta do better, NYC 
65 warming facilities is a start but theres still room 4 improvement 
gotta make sure everyone knows where 2 find assistance, cant have people freezing b4 we get the resources 2 them 
20 people huddled together outside the ferry terminal? that's heartbreaking 
u gotta wonder how many more ppl don't even know about these warming centers 
reopening schools as warming centers is genius 
& adding new hotel shelter units will definitely help 
but we need more resources for outdoor workers like mike lopez 
vaping in public spaces? no way that's just cruel 
OMG, 15 degrees below zero?! That's like, crazy! I'm not even kidding, the stats are wild too - National Weather Service says this extreme cold wave is expected to hit NYC with wind chills as low as -30°C (that's like, -22°F for you non-metric folks)! 
. And another thing, if people can't handle a bit of frostbite, maybe they shouldn't be working outdoors in the first place... just saying 
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I'm literally living vicariously thru this story of ppl having 2 deal with -20 degrees in nyc lol idk how they do it 1 day. asthma & vaping issues r super concerning esp w/ all these ppl out there shivering rn 
this cold snap is crazy! I'm so worried about people getting frostbite or something worse 
. We need more public awareness campaigns, like a city-wide alert system to remind folks where they can get help. And what's up with all the vaping in public spaces? It's already hard enough for people w/ asthma & now it's even harder due 2 extreme cold 
. Can't wait til Monday, weather's gonna get a lil better 
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! i feel bad for people struggling with asthma or other breathing issues in this kind of cold. have you seen those pics of ppl huddled together outside the ferry terminal? it's heartbreaking 
. The city needs to step up its game and get more resources out there ASAP 
, like more warming centers and hotel shelter units 
! Hope everyone stays safe and warm this weekend