Snowfall pummels NYC as major storm grips region, cold deaths climb to five

As snow that could reach a foot or more began lashing New York City Sunday morning as part of a massive storm sweeping much of the nation, the tally of cold-related deaths across the boroughs climbed to at least six.

Cops responding to a 911 call found a 52-year-old man unconscious and unresponsive on a Queens street around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, an NYPD spokesman said. EMS workers pronounced him dead at the scene, near 96th St. and 34th Ave. in Corona, about 40 minutes later, according to police.

The storm is expected to last until Monday afternoon, with the National Weather Service forecasting heavy snow turning into a wintry sleet mix Sunday evening.

Forecasters predict 8 to 12 inches of snow and sleet by the time the storm wraps up Monday. Central Park already had 7.2 inches by 1 p.m. Sunday.

Around the time the man was pronounced dead in Queens, Mayor Mamdani held a press conference to announce the five earlier deaths and to offer details about the city’s preparations for the storm. The city’s schools will shift to remote learning for Monday.

“Today, at least 5 New Yorkers lost their lives. While it’s still too early to determine the causes 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 X. “Our teams are scouring the streets, offering shelter to homeless New Yorkers, and helping bring people inside. If you see anyone in need of help, please call 311 so our outreach teams can assist.”

Police on Sunday confirmed they were looking into the deaths as cold related and had initially said the victims appeared to be homeless — though Mamdani updated that information in a press conference Sunday afternoon,

“It seems at this moment that we do not think any of them were homeless,” Mamdani said of the five dead.

The city medical rxaminer will conduct autopsies to determine the exact cause of death for each victim.

The mayor said city homeless services workers are doing outreach every two hours and the city shelter system has been operating in a Code Blue status, prioritizing getting people in shelter beds over doing intake paperwork.

In Queens, an unidentified man was found lifeless at about 5:35 a.m. Saturday on Hillburn Ave. near Mayville St., a residential block in St. Albans.

Less than 90 minutes later, cops found another unidentified man, unconscious and not breathing, at E. 69th St. and First Ave. on the Upper East Side. Both were pronounced dead at nearby hospitals.

Their deaths join a tally that includes a 67-year-old man found dead about 7:45 a.m. near Third Ave. and E. 35th St. in Manhattan’s Murray Hill, a 64-year-old woman found outside a home near Remsen Ave. and Glenwood Road in Canarsie, Brooklyn, at about 9:25 a.m., and an unidentified man found dead around the same time near Warren and Smith Sts. in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.

In advance of the storm, NJ Transit announced it was suspending all of its service Sunday. All bus service at the Port Authority Bus Terminal has also been suspended, the mayor said Sunday.

City sanitation trucks started salting the streets in the early morning hours before the storm, and the department started plowing operations once 2 inches had fallen.

The Staten Island Ferry switched to a modified hourly service schedule.

State and federal courthouses will be closed Monday due to the storm, according to notices posted on their websites.

The NYC Board of Elections suspended early voting Monday for the upcoming special election in Queens to fill the Assembly seat vacated by Mamdani. The election is scheduled for Feb. 3.

Mamdani urged New Yorkers to stay off the roads and stay home and offered a couple of indoor alternatives.

“I can think of no better excuse for New Yorkers to stay home, take a long nap, or take advantage of our public library’s offer of free access to ‘Heated Rivalry’ on eBook or audio book for anyone with a library card,” he said, referring to the racy romance books about two secretly gay hockey players that serve as the basis for the hit HBO series of the same name.

Across the boroughs, residents were emptying store shelves of perishables and other supplies like shovels and snow melt Saturday.

During the day Sunday, New Yorkers willing to brave the weather went out to walk their dogs, gawk at the accumulation, grab coffee and shovel their sidewalks.

Some businesses remained open to serve food or sell groceries to city residents.

“This is what winter is supposed to be,” said Duane Chan-Schu, the owner of the NBHD Brûlée coffee shop on Frederick Douglass Blvd. in Harlem. “Today has really brought back memories for me. This is what winters in New York City used to feel like. Snow on the ground, people coming outside to enjoy it.”

“I’ve been out shoveling for about 30 to 40 minutes, and I also have a snowblower, so we’re managing,” he added. “The business is open, and we’re hoping to see some customers come in.”

Marcelo, a 59-year-old cashier, kept watch at the St. James Deli on 34th Ave. in Long Island City, where one man walked in from the cold to get a hot coffee.

“Not everyone has the opportunity to stay home. Some (people) have to go outside no matter what,” Marcelo said. “(We’re) just staying open.”

Not far away, on 34th St., Liam and Emily Fennecken geared up for a walk to visit a friend whose Chihuahua weenie, named Carmela Apple, lost a boot in the snow. The couple’s wintry mission was to return the lost footwear.

“We’re excited. We haven’t had a good snowstorm in a while, and we like the snow,” Liam said.

In Harlem, 61-year-old dog owner Ric Boltz called the storm a challenge.

“We haven’t dealt with weather like this in a long time and because he won’t wear booties, it’s made getting around outside especially difficult,” he said. “But we’re New Yorkers, so we find a way to deal with it and keep moving.”

And Chris White, 41, took the opportunity to sled with his 11-year-old child in St. Nicholas Park.

“I’ve lived here for about 11 years, and this is really only the second time I’ve experienced snow like this,” White said. “At some point we’ll have to pack up and get out of the cold. But once we do, we’re planning to take it easy for the rest of the day.”