Al Roker Enjoys ‘Sleepover’ with “Today” Show Co-Hosts amid Intense Winter Blizzard

NEED TO KNOW

• The Today show cast stayed overnight in Manhattan as N.Y.C. streets closed due to a massive blizzard

• Hoda Kotb returned to co-host while Savannah Guthrie remains in Arizona amid her mother’s disappearance

• Al Roker praised N.Y.C.’s mayor for giving kids a snow day and joked about dog owners cleaning up after their pets in the snow

The Today show cast had to adapt amid New York City’s massive blizzard that first hit on Sunday, Feb. 22.

Weatherman Al Roker shared an update on Instagram ahead of Monday’s broadcast, sharing a video of himself leaving his home and heading into Midtown Manhattan.

“We’re going in early because they’re shutting down the New York City streets at 9 o’clock,” Roker explained. “We’re going to have a little sleepover, the folks at the Today show. It’ll be fun.”

So Roker and the rest of the team, including Craig Melvin, Hoda Kotb, Carson Daly, Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones and more came in early.

Jenna Bush Hager, Carson Daly, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker on Monday, Feb. 23.

NBC

As PEOPLE previously exclusively revealed, Kotb has returned to the Today show for a third week of coverage as Savannah Guthrie remains in Arizona amid the search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie.

In addition to sharing some behind-the-scenes details about how the Today show preps for such severe weather, Roker also gave a shoutout to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who confirmed that local schools would be having a proper work-free school day.

“By the way, hats off to Mayor Mamdani saying, ‘You know what? Kids deserve a snow day, three day weekend.’ Who knows, maybe they’ll get a four-day weekend,” Roker mused.

He also had a word of warning for his fellow residents.

“For all those New Yorkers who walk their dogs, guess what, poop doesn’t magically disappear,” he quipped.

On Monday, Roker posted another video walking the two blocks from where he’d been staying to Studio 1A in Rockefeller Plaza.

“So far this blizzard is living up to its reputation,” he shared.

In the studio, the Today co-hosts marveled at the storm that had brought the New York City streets to a near standstill. The Today show shut down its Plaza on Monday where viewers traditionally gather to meet the co-hosts, holding up signs and cheering.

Dylan Dreyer reports on the blizzard from Long Island on Monday, Feb. 23.

NBC

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Meteorologist Dylan Dreyer reported live outdoors from Long Island, admitting to feeling a bit “rusty.”

“I haven’t been out like this in a storm for a long time!” Dreyer shared. 

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