Winter storm pulls away after dumping heavy snow; frigid air won't budge | Live updates

The storm left well over a foot of snow in parts of the area, and cold air will be locked in place into early February.

WABC logo
Last updated: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 4:38PM GMT
ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The winter storm of January 2026 that once covered 2,000 miles across the nation has pulled away, leaving New York City and the Tri-State area to dig out from the biggest snowfall in years.

The big dig coincided with the start of the work week, with motorists faced with treacherous drives and commuters on public transit that contended with challenges, too, though subway service was largely normal.

The storm left almost a foot and half of snow in parts of the region, while Central Park came in at 11.4 inches, a record for the day. These were not the final numbers and could go up.

There were a few more scattered snow showers early Monday but the bulk of the storm has headed out to sea. Monday's notable weather feature was the bone-chilling cold, and it will linger through at least the next seven days. Temperatures are not expected to top the freezing mark until Feb. 3, when a high of 33 is expected, still well below normal.

That means the snow and ice will stick around at least into early February.

Latest Forecast

Stay with Eyewitness News for live updates on the commute and the recovery from the storm. Check back here for frequent updates.

Click here for the latest advisories, watches and warnings from the National Weather Service


Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 24, 2026, 9:52 PM GMT

Empire State Building unveils snowfall tower light show ahead of winter storm's arrival

The New York skyline will be swirling in snowflakes on Sunday as a massive winter storm descends on Gotham. On Saturday, New Yorkers will be getting a towering preview of the snowstorm with a spectacular snowfall light display atop the Empire State Building.

The evening show is being described as a "never-before-seen snowfall effect."

We'll have video of the spectacle here later on our winter storm blog.

WABC logo
Jan 24, 2026, 2:32 PM GMT

Winter storm causes thousands of flight cancellations across US

Airlines have canceled thousands of flights across the country with many carriers issuing travel waivers to customers.

Officials are warning that some airports could be closed on Sunday for several hours.

American Airlines and Delta Airlines are both waiving rebooking fees for affected customers. United Airlines is issuing travel waivers for impacted cities for fliers who bought tickets on or before January 20th to rebook without a fee

ABC News' Andrew Dymburt reports from Newark Liberty International Airport on the winter storm's impact on flights.

Andrew Dymburt reports from Newark Airport.
Anthony Carlo Image
Jan 24, 2026, 4:38 AM GMT

Stores across NYC left with empty shelves as people prepare to hunker down for weekend snowstorm

The demand for last-minute food items on Friday across NYC resembled the wait to get on an adult ride at an amusement park.

The line at Trader Joe's, however, was not amusing at all.

Anthony Carlo has more from Manhattan.

The madhouse that is food shopping before the snowstorm left people who had no intention of panic buying empty-handed.

"It's been ransacked. Really," one shopper said.

Many of the shelves across stores in the city are empty as people hustle to get what they need.

Anthony Carlo has the latest on the preparations in New York City.

WABC logo
Jan 23, 2026, 11:53 PM GMT

Tips to avoid heart attacks from shoveling, other activities during winter

Digging out after the snow can be a dangerous task if you don't know what you're doing, or your physical limits.

Research shows as many as 100 people die each year from heart attacks while shoveling snow.

Mike Marza reports on how to stay safe when shoveling.

Thousands more receive medical care for related injuries or cardiovascular events each winter.

So how do you avoid becoming one of those statistics?

We reached out to Stony Brook Medical Center for some tips.