Winter Freeze Shuts Down NYC Waterways

A severe cold snap has brought NYC Ferry service to a standstill, forcing a complete suspension of all routes due to heavy, dangerous ice buildup in the Hudson River, East River, and New York Harbor. The rare shutdown, which could last several days, highlights the immediate disruption faced by commuters and exposes deeper vulnerabilities in the city’s public transit infrastructure during extreme winter weather.

Story Highlights

All NYC Ferry routes suspended at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2026, due to heavy ice in Hudson River, East River, and New York Harbor—potentially out for several days.
Extreme cold snap hits NYC with first zero-degree temperatures in a decade, triggering Code Blue alert and rare waterway shutdown for public safety.
Commuters in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and NJ face major disruptions, forcing reliance on overcrowded trains and buses during peak winter freeze.
Experts warn of “nerve-wracking” ice navigation; contrasts with private competitors like New York Waterway running delayed service.

Suspension Timeline and Causes

NYC Ferry halted all operations at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, after ice thickened in key waterways. Ferries navigated risky patches near New Jersey and New York shorelines that morning, with tugboats providing midday assistance. By evening at 5:20 p.m. ET, no resumption appeared likely. Prolonged sub-30°F temperatures combined with weak tidal currents from a half moon phase allowed uncommon ice floes to form in brackish rivers. NYC Harbor’s usual dynamics prevent thick ice, but calm conditions enabled buildup, prioritizing passenger safety over schedules.

Commuter ferries into NYC this morning having to do some serious ice breaking though the Hudson River pic.twitter.com/Lhf6jNJei4

— Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) January 26, 2026

Expert Insights on Ice Hazards

Riverkeeper Patrol Captain Luis Melendez, a 16-year veteran navigator, described ice navigation as “nerve-wracking,” demanding extreme focus to avoid sudden hazards. Stevens Institute coastal engineer Philip Orton explained ice formation requires temperatures below 30°F plus weak currents, predicting persistence until tides strengthen. Ferry captains emphasize slow speeds in heavy ice risk uncontrolled landings, justifying full suspension. These conditions echo rare past events like 2014 and 2019 polar vortexes, underscoring winter vulnerabilities in public transit systems.

Impacts on Commuters and Operations

Commuters like Irina in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park and Susan Lacroix faced app discrepancies and rerouting frustrations but voiced support for safety measures. Low-income riders in Staten Island and NJ suffer most without reliable alternatives during Code Blue alerts. All routes remain closed through Wednesday, January 28, with multi-day warnings. NYC Ferry prepares its fleet while directing updates via ferry.nyc/app. Competitor New York Waterway modified service, suspending Edgewater, NJ routes but continuing delays elsewhere, highlighting public system’s limitations.

Short-term disruptions overload trains and buses amid extreme cold. Economic losses hit NYC Ferry through forgone fares, while social strains mix rider frustration with safety empathy. Long-term, persistent ice could delay seasonal operations, exposing harbor infrastructure’s vulnerability to natural extremes without resilient upgrades.

Broader Lessons for Resilience

NYC Ferry, relaunched in 2017 as a public commuter and sightseeing system under EDC, now grapples with rare but predictable winter threats. Operators monitor conditions closely, collaborating with crews and tugboats for safe resumption. Stakeholders including regulators like Riverkeeper ensure compliance amid power dynamics deferring to waterway realities. This event spotlights needs for ice-capable vessels in taxpayer-funded transit, a common-sense upgrade long overdue after years of globalist distractions and fiscal waste under prior administrations. Real-time checks via official channels remain essential as conditions evolve.

Watch the report: Ice in rivers impacting NYC Ferry service