New York City’s Mayor has faced his first significant challenge since taking office, preparing the city for a historic winter storm that dumped over a foot of snow in certain areas this past weekend.
Winter Storm Fern, which forecasters projected could impact over 230 million people nationwide, brought heavy snow, damaging ice, and sub-zero temperatures to several states in recent days. The harsh weather caused thousands of , along with affecting more than 1 million individuals. Over a dozen people lost their lives during the storm, including seven in New York City. The NYC fatalities remain under investigation.
“It’s still too soon to provide a comprehensive diagnosis or determine the cause of death,” Mamdani stated at a press conference. However, he added, “We haven’t experienced such severe cold in eight years, and it’s extremely debilitating.”
This storm marked the first major weather event in the city since Mamdani took over from former Mayor Eric Adams on January 1. And, according to numerous residents and prominent local figures, Mamdani demonstrated he was capable of managing the situation.
Here’s how the new mayor reacted to the storm.
What steps did Mamdani take to prepare for the storm?
In the days prior to the storm hitting New York City, Mamdani held multiple press briefings, appeared on various news networks, and shared numerous videos on his social media channels to keep the public informed about the forecast and the city’s preparations for the impending storm. He encouraged New Yorkers to stay home on Sunday, when the storm’s peak was expected to pass through the city—and he did so with a touch of humor.
“I can’t think of a better reason for New Yorkers to stay home, take a long nap, or utilize our public library’s offer of free access to Heated Rivalry via e-book or audiobook for anyone with a library card,” he during a Sunday press conference.
Under his leadership, the city across all five boroughs for residents in need of a safe, warm space. Additionally, staff at the Department of Homeless Services “relaxed intake procedures” and carried out “intensified outreach across all five boroughs” to connect unhoused individuals with shelters and warming centers, the city .
The city also established a form of informational hotline—residents could stay informed about the storm and the city’s response by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692.
Department of Sanitation workers began pre-salting streets, highways, and bike lanes on Friday, ahead of the storm’s peak. The city the department would deploy approximately 2,000 workers on 12-hour shifts, using 700 salt spreaders and over 2,000 plows to clear streets. Thousands of the department’s trucks were converted into snow plows, . The mayor stated that crews would start salting neighborhoods in all boroughs as soon as snow began falling, and plows would be deployed once there was more than 2 inches of snow on the ground.
The mayor also informed families that the severe weather might require New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) to switch to remote learning on Monday—and ultimately, he and the NYCPS chancellor made that decision on Sunday.
“As snow covers our city and conditions become dangerous, closing school buildings is a necessary measure to protect New Yorkers’ safety,” Mamdani said in a . “Over the past week, my administration has prepared for this moment—ensuring devices are available, families are informed, and educators are ready to welcome students online. Our school system and our city are prepared to weather this storm together.”
Mamdani also repeatedly urged New Yorkers to call 311 if they encountered anyone needing help during the storm.
“We’ll overcome this storm as we always do—by looking out for each other,” he said in a on Saturday.
What local groups and leaders have said about Mamdani’s handling of the storm
Overall, reactions to Mamdani’s management of the storm were largely positive.
A video of Mamdani shoveling snow in Brooklyn to assist a driver whose car was stuck in the snow went viral on social media over the weekend, drawing praise from some users.
“Wow—that’s hands-on leadership!” the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn when reposting the video on X. “Thank you @NYCMayor for being out on the streets ensuring the city keeps moving.” The next day, the group went on to the Department of Sanitation for the “great job in clearing the streets, and continuing to clear them,” as well as for its “close cooperation, checking in that all OK (in addition to the mayor’s personal visits and assisting those stranded).”
The new mayor even earned approval from some of his critics.
“Credit where it’s due, @NYCMayor seems to be handling this storm very well so far,” Benny Polatseck, an aide to Adams who has previously criticized Mamdani, in an X post on Sunday. Polatseck, though, later on X Monday afternoon that he was “hearing from some outer borough residents that they haven’t seen a plow truck yet,” asking people to share their experiences. The city has created a that provides residents with real-time updates on whether their street has been plowed.
The city’s response to the storm wasn’t without challenges. Some families told they faced issues accessing remote learning for their children on Monday, though school officials noted a “smooth start to the day” and that most students and teachers were able to access the portal.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin commended the city’s response while also highlighting some shortcomings.
“There are areas where emergency response has been strained and requires improvement, and the Council will be actively involved in addressing these gaps,” she said in a statement to the . “However, the scale of today’s effort underscores how seriously our essential workers take public safety, and the crews on the ground deserve genuine recognition and gratitude from the millions of New Yorkers who depend on them.”
