Honestly, New York weather is a bit of a chaotic masterpiece. You think you've got it figured out because you saw a sunny icon on your phone, and then twenty minutes later, you’re ducking into a Duane Reade to buy a $15 umbrella that will definitely break before you hit the subway.
If you’re looking at the prevision meteo New York right now, specifically for this Sunday, January 18, 2026, things are getting interesting. We aren't just talking about "cold." We are talking about the city's first real accumulating snow of the year.
The Immediate Situation
Right now, it’s about 30°F outside. It feels more like 27°F because the wind is cutting in from the west. Mostly cloudy. Quiet. But the New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) isn't being quiet—they’ve already issued a Travel Advisory.
Sunday is going to be a mess. A fast-moving system is rolling in. We’re looking at a high of 34°F and a low of 23°F. Snow is expected to start as early as 5:00 a.m.
Most of the city will likely see 1 to 3 inches. If you’re in eastern Queens or southeast Brooklyn, you might even hit 4 inches. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has already activated "Bladerunner 2.0"—their GPS tracking for salt spreaders—and they have 700 million pounds of salt ready to go. That’s a lot of salt.
Why NYC Forecasts Are So Tricky
New York sits in a weird spot. It’s a "humid subtropical climate" according to the Köppen system, which sounds like it should involve palm trees, but it actually just means our winters are a battleground between freezing continental air and the Atlantic Ocean’s moderating influence.
The ocean usually keeps the city a few degrees warmer than places further inland like Pennsylvania or even upstate New York. That’s why we often get that "slushy mix" instead of pure snow. But when the Arctic air wins, it really wins.
For the rest of January 2026, the long-range outlook suggests we’ll stay slightly below average temperature-wise, likely hovering around 35°F. We’ll see some sunny but bitter cold days through the 24th, then a brief rainy, milder window around the 25th before the cold snaps back.
Real Talk on Accuracy
If you’re checking the prevision meteo New York, don't just trust the first app you open. Most people don't realize that different apps use different models.
- The Weather Company (which powers IBM and The Weather Channel) is consistently ranked high for 1-9 day accuracy.
- AccuWeather is great for that "RealFeel" stat, which actually matters when the wind tunnels between skyscrapers turn a 30-degree day into a 15-degree nightmare.
- Weather Underground is the go-to for hyper-local data because they pull from personal weather stations on people's rooftops.
Surviving the "Big Apple" Chill
If you're out tomorrow during the snow, remember: the heaviest accumulation is slated for 8:00 a.m. to noon and again from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Also, a heads-up for Monday—it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There’s no trash or recycling collection. If you usually have Monday pickup, don't put your stuff out until Monday evening for Tuesday collection.
Pro-tip: If you see someone who looks like they need shelter during this "Code Blue" period, call 311. The city has outreach teams hitting all five boroughs to get people off the streets when it gets this dangerous.
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What to do next
Check the NYC Plow Tracker if you absolutely have to drive tomorrow. It’ll show you exactly which streets have been salted or plowed in real-time. If you're a property owner, remember you have a legal window to clear your sidewalk—usually 4 hours if the snow stops during the day, or by 11:00 a.m. if it stops overnight. Stay off the roads if you can; let the DSNY do their thing.