New York City’s snow removal efforts during Winter Storm Fern have gone viral, with footage of Department of Sanitation workers breaking up and scattering massive snow piles in bus lanes sparking both humor and debate online. The storm, which dropped up to 14 inches of snow on January 25, left lingering accumulations nearly two weeks later, prompting city crews to employ skid-steer loaders to accelerate melting through friction, salt, and chemicals.

A video captured from above shows multiple yellow loaders pushing and breaking apart snow into messy piles across a bus lane, a routine procedure designed to expedite removal when conditions permit. Despite the practical purpose, social media users quickly mocked the method, overlaying memes and jokes comparing the process to chaotic governance or inefficiency, with some partisan commentary aimed at Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration.

Locals and former sanitation workers defended the strategy, explaining that spreading snow in traffic lanes can speed melting and prevent massive ice build-ups, particularly in subfreezing temperatures that have hovered near -20°F with wind chills. Experts warn that concentrated piles left untouched risk creating dangerous ice sheets, while breaking them apart promotes faster drainage and safer streets.

The online reaction highlights the tension between public perception and operational reality. While humorous videos dominate feeds and inspire commentary about “drunk” or haphazard operations, city officials maintain that the approach is standard for New York winters, especially when persistent cold slows traditional plowing and removal efforts.

The viral attention underscores the challenges of urban snow management in densely populated areas, where visibility, safety, and timing must all be balanced against public scrutiny. Despite the ridicule, sanitation crews continue their work, emphasizing safety and efficiency over optics, demonstrating the often-overlooked complexity of snow removal in one of the nation’s largest cities.