New York: 13 Dead Amid Extreme Cold Snap

New York City has recorded at least 13 deaths linked to hypothermia during a severe cold wave now in its 11th day, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced at a press conference on February 2, 2026. He stated that 16 residents died outdoors during the freeze, with hypothermia playing a role in 13 cases; the other three appear linked to drug overdose. None were unhoused at the time of death, though some had previously contacted emergency shelter services. The city may be experiencing its longest continuous sub-zero temperature stretch in recorded history. To respond, the city deployed a fleet of 20 medical response vehicles and opened emergency warming centers. Official data shows cold-related deaths rose from 9–27 annually (2005–2021) to 34 in 2021 and 54 in 2022. City Comptroller Mark Levine estimates tens of thousands of New Yorkers—including many families with children—lack stable housing, with nearly 95% residing in municipal shelters. Shelter occupancy climbed from 22,955 in January 2000 to 62,679 by January 2020.