![\"Sidewalk](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/snow-sidewalk-nyc-winter.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
While we look forward to new beginnings, the start of a new year also means that winter is upon us. In New York, cold weather is unlike cold in most other places. I tell everyone who\u2019s yet to experience a winter in New York City that they are in for a brutal cold they\u2019ve never felt before. You might think I\u2019m exaggerating, but I assure you, I\u2019m not.<\/p>\n
Of course, other regions may have lower temperatures and greater snow fall, but in NYC, you\u2019re forced to face freezing temps head on. And since owning a vehicle is considered a luxury, you\u2019ll probably have to rely on your legs to take you where you need to go.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re trudging through ice and snow to reach the subway (be careful of slippery stairs leading to the platform), hoping to luck out and grab a taxi (if they\u2019re even operating) or waiting for the bus in blizzards, navigating NYC\u2019s frozen streets and intersections sometimes piled eight feet high with snow is a feat unto itself. And when that wind rips, the real feel can be 15 or 20 degrees lower than the actual temperature (and even subzero).<\/p>\n
Now that you know what makes us New Yorkers tough, you\u2019ll have to toughen up yourself. Are you ready for a New York winter? Here\u2019s my guide to surviving NYC winter.<\/p>\n
A down coat will save you in January and February when the city is at its coldest and windiest. Invest in a quality coat that will last for years. You\u2019ll need waterproof boots to travel through the ice and snow, so be prepared to carry stylish shoes in your city bag or keep a few pairs at the office. I know a lot of New Yorkers have a shoe drawer at work, so you wouldn\u2019t be the first. A pair of rubber boots will also come in handy, especially when the snow melts and six-inch puddles persist until that snow water drains.<\/p>\n
Accessories are a must too. Choose scarves that are long enough to knot and wrap around your neck several times to create a barrier between your skin and the wind. A lined wool hat that covers your ears, earmuffs, and mittens are extras that you\u2019ll need to include in your winter wardrobe for NYC. Tech-friendly gloves will be your best friend while you spend time on the streets of New York. You won\u2019t have to remove the gloves to text friends or return those pertinent work emails.<\/p>\n
Other obvious items would be a wool dress coat for special occasions, warm sweaters, thick socks, and sunglasses because the freezing weather can dry eyes or make them tear. And if you\u2019re going to spend a lot of time standing outside, you might want to invest in thermal underwear and foot and hand warmers. These are all New York winter essentials that will provide you some sort of relief in the blistering cold.<\/p>\n
Unless you own a home in New York City, you shouldn\u2019t be responsible for shoveling or maintaining sidewalks. Your super and building staff will oversee clearing your walkway so that it’s clean and safe to walk on. If you do own a home in NYC, get ready to shovel snow and scrape ice, unless you hire someone to do it for you.<\/p>\n
When New York gets a lot of snow (a foot or more) or several snowstorms within a short period, snow tends to pile up quickly. There\u2019s nowhere to put the snow until it melts, so visibility at intersections and the simple act of walking gets challenging. All you can do is walk around the behemoth snow mounds, but you will need to allow additional time for your commute.<\/p>\n
![\"Snow-covered](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/snowy-street-lights-nyc-winter.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Stand back from corners, particularly when snow and ice begin to melt. Whizzing traffic will splash the melted snow, which mixes with the dirt from the street and quickly becomes gray slush. That filthy water could land on your new dress, suit, or anything else within reach.<\/p>\n
![\"Older](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/snow-removal-street-nyc-winter.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
When snow comes in NYC, alternate side parking is usually suspended for the time being, so if you do own a car, you might not be required to move it for several days. Still, you\u2019ll have to shovel out, and your car could be plowed in and covered with six feet of snow (or more) if you can even recognize your vehicle.<\/p>\n