Extreme Weather Drives 4x Surge in NYC Eviction Suspensions This Year

The Weather-Driven Halt: Record Number of Eviction Suspension Days

New York City marshals were ordered to stand down from executing residential eviction warrants on 22 separate days so far this year—more than four times the total for all of 2025, when just five suspension days occurred, according to data from the city’s Department of Investigation (DOI). The number dwarfs the two suspension days logged in each of 2024 and 2023, which were tied to dangerous air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke.

Nine of this year’s suspensions have been for extreme heat, and five were triggered by February’s historic blizzard that brought prolonged cold and heavy snowfall. Clodagh McGowan, a DOI spokesperson, said the decisions are made jointly with the city’s civil court, and extreme weather is a frequent justification. “This year, 2026, has featured a number of extreme cold and heat advisories for prolonged periods of time, which has led to eviction suspensions,” she said.

Daniel Bader, a senior staff associate at Columbia’s Climate School, noted that the past winter had 15 more days than normal with minimum temperatures at or below freezing and 20 inches of snow above the usual average in Manhattan. While average summer temperatures so far have been near normal, the city’s understanding of how humidity intensifies heat risk—and the fact that Central Park recorded its hottest day since 2012 a few weeks ago—may be influencing the threshold for suspensions.

No statute specifies when evictions must be paused; it is a discretionary call by city and judicial officials. The surge coincides with a new, pro-tenant mayoral administration, prompting speculation about political motivation. McGowan said there has been no mayoral directive, reiterating that the civil court must sign off. Housing attorneys welcome the relief: Munonyedi Clifford, head of Legal Aid’s citywide housing practice, said even a one-day delay can let a tenant access emergency rental assistance or a one-shot deal.

What’s Behind the Eviction Moratorium Spike—and What It Means for the City

Climate or Politics? The Ambiguous Trigger

The year’s 22 suspension days break sharply with the recent past, yet the weather alone does not fully explain the jump. Winter was indeed harsher than average, but summer temperature data is mixed. The city appears to be applying a more precautionary standard, perhaps factoring in humidity and real-feel heat in a way it didn’t before. However, the arrival of a new mayor with a pro-tenant platform makes it impossible to ignore the possibility that policy preference is tilting the scales. McGowan’s denial of a mayoral directive leaves room for interpretation; the civil court’s role could be the channel through which a softer touch is felt.

The Albany Bills and the Push for Formal Rules

Two bills introduced in the state legislature this year aim to codify what is now an ad-hoc process. One would ban evictions during the coldest months; the other would halt them during “extreme weather conditions” and for three days afterward. If passed, these bills would remove the current uncertainty for landlords and tenants alike. The current surge in suspensions—22 days and counting—adds urgency to the legislative conversation, as it shows the existing discretionary system can produce wide variation in outcomes year to year.

What It Means for Tenants and the Court System

For tenants facing eviction, a suspension day is a critical reprieve. Clifford noted that even a single extra day can allow a tenant to secure a one-shot payment or additional funds, potentially resolving the case outright. The frequent pauses, however, introduce unpredictability for marshals, housing courts, and landlords, who must plan around sudden halts. The system’s reliance on weather thresholds that are not legally defined means each extreme day could trigger a last-minute scramble—or, conversely, a failure to suspend when conditions are arguably severe, as happened on June 11 when evictions proceeded despite a heat index forecast of 100 degrees.

What Tenants, Landlords, and Policymakers Should Do Next

• If you are a tenant with an eviction warrant, know that extreme weather can trigger a last-minute suspension. Use the extra time to contact a legal aid provider such as Legal Aid’s housing unit—the organization specifically noted that even a one-day delay can open access to a one-shot deal or emergency rental assistance.
• Landlords and property managers should factor potential weather-related delays into their possession timelines, especially during the summer heat-wave months and winter cold snaps. The 22 suspension days in 2026—and the absence of a firm statutory rule—mean this pattern is likely to recur.
• Policymakers should pay attention to the Albany bill that would mandate eviction halts during extreme weather. With 22 suspension days already recorded, the current ad-hoc approach is producing year-to-year volatility that could be replaced with a predictable standard that protects vulnerable tenants while giving landlords clarity.