The mayor, facing his first big weather test as the city\u2019s chief executive<\/a>, appeared on the Weather Channel Sunday morning, speaking with broadcast meteorologist Jim Cantore under falling snow in Central Park. Cantore asked Mamdani how the snowstorm response was going so far.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going well. And thankfully, you know, the work of these incredible men and women at [New York City Department of Sanitation], we\u2019re seeing it all across the city because they started brining highways, major roadways, at 6 a.m. on Friday,\u201d Mamdani said. \u201cSo, if you start preparing when the snow falls, you\u2019re already late. But thanks to them, we\u2019ve been preparing in advance.\u201d<\/p>\n The city has about 700 salt spreaders and over 2,000 snowplows, which Mamdani described as \u201cthe largest snow fighting force in the nation.\u201d The mayor held an early afternoon press conference on Sunday to further spread the word about storm response, school closure, and safety precautions.<\/p>\n Mamdani began speaking publicly about the storm in the middle of the week, urging New Yorkers to grocery shop in advance, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep an eye on neighbors. The city declared a Code Blue, which triggers outreach to homeless individuals and requires shelters to admit anyone seeking shelter.<\/p>\n The city has also opened ten warming centers<\/a> across the five boroughs for New Yorkers who find themselves stuck in the cold. Temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing for most of the week.<\/p>\n The mayor noted on the Weather Channel that the city recorded five deaths on Saturday, and said that though it is not yet clear whether they were storm-related, the deaths are \u201ca reminder of how hazardous these conditions can be.\u201d He urged New Yorkers to call 311 if they see a homeless person on the street in the storm in order to get them assistance.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see on an annual basis New Yorkers who succumb to the cold. We don\u2019t want that to be the case, so what we\u2019re doing is we\u2019ve opened up 10 warming centers, two in each borough,\u201d Mamdani said on the Weather Channel. \u201cThere are a number of places that we\u2019re looking to connect homeless New Yorkers with shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n While he was in Central Park, Mamdani paid a visit<\/a> to workers for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.<\/p>\n Mamdani also announced on Sunday that public school students will have a remote learning day<\/a> on Monday in lieu of a traditional snow day, which the mayor had ruled out ahead of the storm.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody has a role to play, and I know that for some students who are disappointed that tomorrow\u2019s not a traditional snow day, I do have to say to you, if you see me outside, you can pelt me in the face with a snowball,\u201d Mamdani said on the Weather Channel.<\/p>\n Some New York City parents wrote on X Sunday that the mayor had sent out a recorded robo call<\/a> alerting them of the school closures.<\/p>\n Cantore also asked about Saturday\u2019s fire in the Bronx, which was set off by a gas tank explosion.\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe did see one New Yorker lose their life and we mourn them, and we\u2019re thinking of their family at this time,\u201d Mamdani said.\n<\/p>\n The mayor had joined families<\/a> at a nearby reception center on Saturday after the explosion and fire.<\/p>\n Mayor condemns second ICE killing in Minneapolis<\/strong><\/p>\n Amid the snow preparation, Mamdani responded to Saturday\u2019s Immigration and Customs Enforcement killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a United States citizen.<\/p>\n \u201cAs tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today,\u201d Mamdani wrote in a statement posted to X<\/a>.<\/p>\n The shooting set off a massive protest in lower Manhattan on Saturday afternoon, with demonstrators calling for the abolition of ICE in freezing temperatures.\u00a0<\/p>\n Videos of the shooting contradict claims by the Department of Homeland Security regarding who initiated the encounter \u2014 DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that Pretti had confronted agents first with a gun and threatened agents\u2019 lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"man](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/winter-storm-east-new-york-lloyd-mitchell-01252026-8-1.jpg\" "\\"MAMDANI\u2019S")
A man cleans off his girlfriend\u2019s car during a snowstorm impacting millions of Americans from the deep south to the Northeast. The New York City area is expected to get 8 to 12 inchs of snow.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell<\/p>\n![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/winter-storm-east-new-york-lloyd-mitchell-01252026-1.jpg\" "\\"MAMDANI\u2019S")
A New Yorker braves the elements as plow trucks clear the streets in Brooklyn on Jan. 25, 2026.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell<\/p>\n