New York City will move most public school instruction to remote learning on Monday, Jan. 26, as a dangerous winter storm hits the region. About 500,000 students across more than 1,100 schools are affected, though high school students and some middle-schoolers already had the day off. City officials say devices and virtual classrooms were prepared in advance. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and urged residents to avoid nonessential travel amid heavy snow and record winter alerts.
NYC Moves 500,000 Students to Remote Learning Monday as Record Winter Storm Hits
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference about preparations for an approaching winter storm on Jan. 24, 2026.(Getty Images)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that public schools will shift to remote instruction on Monday, Jan. 26, as a dangerous winter storm begins to blanket the region. City leaders cited hazardous travel and safety concerns for students and staff as the reason for the decision.
In a post on X, Mamdani said his administration had spent the past week preparing for this possibility by ensuring devices were distributed, families were informed and educators were ready to welcome students online.
A person walks down a residential street as snow falls in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Jan. 25, 2026.
Mamdani and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Chancellor Kamar Samuels said in a press release that all NYCPS buildings will be closed on Jan. 26 because of the extreme weather. All after-school programs, adult education courses and other school-based activities are canceled, while most students will receive instruction remotely.
“Preparation matters, especially in moments like this,” Samuels said. “I am grateful to our school communities for the work they’ve done over the last several days — from stress-testing technology to securing buildings and getting virtual classrooms ready. This was a difficult decision made with the safety of every family in mind, and I thank you for your flexibility.”
The closure affects roughly 500,000 students across more than 1,100 schools. Monday had already been scheduled as an off day for high school students and for some students in grades six through eight, but the remote shift applies to the majority of the city’s student population.
A man sits on a bench in Central Park as snow falls in New York City on Jan. 25, 2026.
National weather services reported that nearly 200 million people were under some form of winter weather alert on Sunday, a record for the number of U.S. counties simultaneously covered by Winter Storm Warnings. Locally, heavy snow began moving into New York City and the broader tri-state area in the morning, with radar showing Manhattan coated in snow and snowfall rates of up to two inches per hour from New Jersey through Long Island.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and urged residents to avoid nonessential travel, stay updated with local forecasts and check on neighbors. Officials said they are prepared to clear streets and respond to any power outages.
School officials encouraged families to check communication from their schools for specific schedules and remote learning instructions, and reminded the public to prioritize safety throughout the storm.
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