Snowfall begins as storm grips NYC, cold deaths climb to five
As snow, which could reach 12 inches or more, began to hit New York City on Sunday morning as part of a massive storm sweeping much of the country, the number of cold-related deaths in the boroughs rose to at least five.
The storm is expected to last through Monday afternoon, with the National Weather Service forecasting heavy snow that will transition into a wintry mix of sleet late Sunday afternoon and evening. New Yorkers can expect 8 to 12 inches of snow and sleet, followed by light freezing rain later this evening.
Mayor Mamdani took to social media Saturday evening to announce the five deaths and provide details of the city’s preparations. The school system will decide at noon Sunday whether schools will be closed Monday, the mayor said.
“Today, at least 5 New Yorkers lost their lives. While it is still too early to determine the cause of death, it is a reminder that every year, New Yorkers succumb to the cold. The danger of this weather cannot be overstated,” Mamdani posted on please call 311 so our local teams can help you.”
Police confirmed Sunday they were investigating the deaths as cold-related, and all five victims appeared to be homeless.
In Queens, an unidentified man was found dead around 5:35 a.m. Saturday on Hillburn Avenue near Mayville Street, an apartment building in St. Albans.
Less than 90 minutes later, cops found another unidentified homeless man, unconscious and not breathing, on 69th Street and First Avenue on the Upper East Side. Both were pronounced dead at nearby hospitals.
Their deaths add to a tally that includes a 67-year-old man found dead around 7:45 a.m. near Third Ave. and E. 35th St. in Murray Hill in Manhattan, a 64-year-old woman found outside a home near Remsen Ave. and Glenwood Rd. in Canarsie, Brooklyn, around 9:25 a.m., and an unidentified man found dead around the same time near Warren and Smith Sts. in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
The causes of their death will be determined by the city medical examiner.
Before the storm, NJ Transit announced it would suspend all service on Sunday.
City sanitation trucks have been salting the streets for hours, and the department said it will begin plowing operations once 2 inches of soil has fallen.
Across the boroughs, residents were emptying store shelves of perishables and other supplies like shovels and snowmelt Saturday.
