Council to Examine Snow Removal Before Winter
NYC's sanitation committee takes up winter storm preparation and a bill requiring public snowplowing records on Monday.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Forecasts
The New York City Council's sanitation committee will examine the city's winter storm and snow removal preparation on Monday, November 2, 2026. Council will also consider a bill requiring the Department of Sanitation to keep and publish historical snowplowing records on PlowNYC.
Why it matters
Two major winter storms earlier this year left streets and sidewalks buried, and low temperatures kept snow frozen for weeks. Councilmember Ty Hankerson, the bill's primary sponsor, said the legislation would give New Yorkers greater transparency during and after snowstorms.
The city has experienced two major winter storms this year, and PlowNYC currently shows only the last time a block was cleared rather than historical records. Whether the proposed record-keeping requirement will be adopted remains undetermined.
The players
Ty Hankerson
Ty Hankerson is a New York City Councilmember and the primary sponsor of the bill requiring public snowplowing records.
The details
The sanitation committee will review how the city prepares for and responds to winter storms, with attention to snow removal. The proposed bill would require the Department of Sanitation to publish snowplowing records on PlowNYC, which currently does not keep that historical data.
Timeline
Earlier this year: Two major winter storms buried streets and sidewalks.
Last winter: Prolonged cold and heavy snowfall hit the city.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Council sanitation committee hearing on snow removal.
Upcoming winter 2026-27: Federal forecasters predict a warmer-than-average winter.
Seasonal Patterns
Federal forecasters predict a warmer-than-average winter for New York City, partly due to El Niño, following a prior winter of prolonged cold and heavy snowfall. The council's review comes as the city plans for a season whose severity is expected to be lower than the last.
New Yorkers who want to track snow clearing could use PlowNYC, though it currently shows only the last cleared time for each block. If the bill passes, residents would be able to see historical snowplowing records during and after future storms.
The takeaway
Monitoring the council's decisions on snow removal transparency can help residents understand how the city responds to winter storms before the season begins.
What happens next
The sanitation committee hearing on snow removal takes place Monday, November 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more on what seasonal outlooks signal for the coming months, see Forecasts.
