Snow removal workers clearing walkways on Long Island made a grim discovery Monday afternoon when they uncovered the body of a man buried beneath accumulated snow outside a housing complex in Deer Park, as reported by The New York Post.

According to the Suffolk County Police Department, shovelers were working near a residential complex on Parkcenter Drive around 3:45 p.m. when they found the man’s body beneath the snow near a walkway.

Authorities responded to the scene and pronounced the man dead.

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Detectives believe the death does not appear to be criminal in nature. The man’s identity has not been released as officials are withholding his name pending notification of next of kin.

Investigators have not determined whether the man was homeless or why he was outside during the severe winter conditions.

The Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner is scheduled to conduct an autopsy to establish the official cause of death.

The discovery came after Suffolk County experienced record-breaking snowfall overnight during Winter Storm Hernando.

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The powerful system delivered significant accumulation across the region, creating hazardous conditions and widespread disruptions.

Babylon, the town that includes Deer Park, recorded 24 inches of snow as of 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The storm’s impact extended across much of Long Island, with heavy snowfall blanketing residential neighborhoods, roadways, and public spaces.

While Suffolk County authorities investigated the Deer Park death, officials in New York City reported no confirmed fatalities tied directly to the blizzard as of early afternoon.

“We are not aware of any deaths related to this blizzard on our city streets or in public areas,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during a press conference in Brooklyn.

As the blizzard intensifies, Mamdani is hitting cameras defending the city’s response. Critics say the messaging isn’t matching conditions on the ground. Snow piling up, patience running thin.pic.twitter.com/vtDz7hWR6F

— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) February 23, 2026

The mayor’s statement followed scrutiny over the city’s response to a prior winter weather event.

During the last significant snowstorm and dangerous freeze, at least 19 people died outside between Jan. 24 and Feb. 7, according to previously reported figures. Of those deaths, 15 were attributed to hypothermia.

City officials had faced criticism at that time over efforts to move homeless individuals indoors during extreme cold.

The prior fatalities heightened attention on how local governments respond to severe winter weather, particularly when vulnerable populations may be exposed to life-threatening conditions.

In Suffolk County, authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the Deer Park case beyond confirming that detectives do not suspect criminal activity at this stage.

The investigation remains ongoing pending the results of the medical examiner’s findings.

Winter Storm Hernando’s heavy snowfall left many communities across Long Island digging out throughout the day on Monday.

Emergency crews and public works employees worked to clear streets and restore normal operations following the storm’s passage.

Officials have urged residents to exercise caution while navigating snow-covered sidewalks and roadways as cleanup efforts continue.

The cause and manner of the man’s death will ultimately be determined following the autopsy, which authorities say will provide further clarity in the coming days.

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