The death toll from New York City's prolonged cold spell has reached 18, officials confirmed on Sunday. The fatalities underscore the dangers of subzero temperatures that have gripped the region, marking one of the longest such cold stretches since 1961.
The latest victim was found in the Bronx on Saturday morning, while an 81-year-old man died after slipping on ice on his Brooklyn apartment roof. The cold has been a stark contrast to recent winters; New York was classified as a humid subtropical climate zone in 2020.
On 19 January, the city declared a 'code blue' emergency, prohibiting shelter denials and allowing subway refuge. Homeless outreach teams have been active, and non-emergency calls are redirected to 911. Temperatures have been 10-15°F below average, with wind chills as low as -20°F (-29°C), risking hypothermia and frostbite in minutes.
An extreme cold warning was issued from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon, the first such alert since its creation in 2024. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration opened 60 hotel rooms and 62 warming centres, with Mamdani urging those on the streets to seek shelter.
