The New School closes campus due to winter storm Fern

Photo by Dove Williams

The New School closes campus due to winter storm Fern

By:

Jan 27, 2026

The New School canceled classes and closed offices on Sunday and Monday due to winter storm Fern, which brought upwards of 11 inches of snow to parts of New York City, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters for PIX11 News say the storm was one of NYC’s biggest in years, following multiple winters of relatively light snowfall.

The snow storm began in NYC on Sunday morning and continued throughout the day.

New School administrators made the decision to close administrative offices and cancel in-person classes on Sunday and Monday. Residence halls remained open for students, according to campus closure messages sent to the New School community.

Dining services operated on a modified schedule starting at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, but all classrooms, labs, workshops, libraries, and Student Health Services were closed, according to a message sent to the New School community on Sunday.

A Department of Sanitation garbage truck clears snow on the corner of Bowery and Grand St. on Sunday, January 25, 2026. During major weather events, DSNY workers drive ploughs and salt trucks to clear snow and ice. Photo by Matthew Hoen

While offices were closed, public areas of the University Center remained open as a warming shelter from 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Sunday and Monday, providing refuge for those looking to escape the storm.

“Make no mistake, we are taking every precaution, and we are prepared for every possible amount of snow,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a press conference on Saturday.

“Please, if you can avoid it, do not drive, do not travel, do not do anything that could potentially place you or your loved ones in danger,” he said.

A J train arrives at Chauncey St. station on Sunday, January 25, 2026. MTA trains throughout the system faced signal failures, frozen doors, and snow-covered tracks in the wake of the storm. Photo by Dove Williams

The MTA advised riders who must travel to allow extra travel time and use caution on station staircases and platforms, as well as when boarding and exiting trains.

The cold conditions will continue through the week, with highs in the low 20s and overnight lows in the single digits. More snow is possible this weekend, with a 50 percent chance on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

The university returned to regular hours of operation today. Students, faculty, and staff were directed to check for updates on the New School status page and Twitter account, @TheNewSchool, for the most current information.