If you’re standing on 5th Avenue right now, you’ve probably noticed the sky looks like a bruised sheet of slate. It’s that classic January gloom where the air doesn't just feel cold; it feels heavy. Honestly, the 7 day forecast new york city is currently doing that thing where it tries to be three different seasons in the span of a single work week.
We’re in the thick of it. Today, Friday, January 16, 2026, we’re looking at a high of 33°F and a low of 21°F. It’s mostly cloudy, and while the "feels like" temp is hovering around 26°F thanks to a 8 mph western wind, don't let the "mostly cloudy" label fool you. There is a 35% chance of snow tonight. It’s the kind of weather where you think you’re fine in a light puffer until you turn a corner and the wind tunnel effect of the skyscrapers hits you like a physical wall.
Reading the 7 day forecast new york city Like a Local
People always mess this up. They see a "chance of snow" and either panic-buy milk or assume the meteorologists are crying wolf again. For Saturday, January 17, the forecast is calling for a messy mix of rain and snow with a high of 38°F and a low of 33°F.
Basically, it's going to be slush.
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The humidity is jumping up to 66%, which in New York means the air will feel damp and bone-chilling. You’ve got a 40% chance of snow during the day and 20% at night. If you're planning to be out, wear the boots with the good grip. Those subway grates become skating rinks the second the temperature dances around the freezing mark.
By Sunday, the high stays at 36°F with lingering snow showers. But here is where the "New York minute" change happens. Monday and Tuesday (January 19-20) are going to be crystal clear and sunny. But don't get excited. It’s that "deceptive sun" that comes with a brutal Arctic high.
Monday’s high is 35°F, but it plummets to 17°F at night. Tuesday is even more aggressive, with a daytime high of only 22°F. That is a 13-degree drop in daytime highs within 24 hours. If you’re commuting, that’s the day your phone battery dies because it’s too cold to function.
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Why the Mid-Week Dip Matters
Usually, we see these shifts when the polar vortex wobbles—something meteorologists like Andrej Flis and the crew at Severe Weather Europe have been tracking closely this month. When that stratospheric warming hits, the "cold legs" reach down and sit right on top of the Northeast.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: Mostly cloudy, climbing back to 35°F.
- Thursday, Jan 22: Snow showers return with a high of 37°F.
- The Wind Factor: Winds will be swinging from the Southwest at 12 mph early in the week to a Northeast flow by Thursday.
The Reality of NYC Winter 2026
We’ve had a weird run. 2025 actually ended a bit below average for once, breaking that streak of record-breaking warmth we saw for years. Meteorologist Vanessa Murdoch from CBS News New York noted earlier this season that while we might be looking at a total of 15 to 20 inches of snow for the whole winter, it’s these "quick hit" snow showers in the weekly forecast that actually disrupt the city more than the big blizzards.
A big blizzard shuts the city down, and we all stay home. A 35% chance of snow showers on a Thursday morning just means the BQE is a parking lot and the L train is delayed "due to weather conditions."
Actionable Advice for the Next 7 Days
- Salt Your Walkways Tonight: With a 35% chance of snow tonight and temps hitting 21°F, anything that melts today is going to be a sheet of black ice by Saturday morning.
- Layer for Tuesday: A high of 22°F is no joke. This isn't the day for "fashion over function." Use a base layer that wicks moisture because the 35% humidity will make the air feel incredibly dry and harsh on your skin.
- Check the Northeast Wind: By Thursday, the wind shifts to the Northeast at 9 mph. This usually brings in more moisture from the Atlantic, which is why the snow chance jumps back up to 35%.
The 7 day forecast new york city shows a classic tug-of-war between Arctic air and coastal moisture. Stay ahead of the Monday night freeze—that 17°F low is going to be the coldest point of the week, and it will catch people off guard after a "mild" 38-degree Saturday.
Keep your layers handy and watch the Saturday slush transition; it's the biggest travel risk in the current window.