Bitter Cold Grips Tri-State, But Warmer Temperatures On The Way

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Residents around the Tri-State Area bundled up Thursday as another bitter blast of cold gripped the area. However, forecasters say relief is in sight.

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Temperatures are expected to hit a low of 27 Thursday night. Friday will be mostly sunny with a cold wind and a high of 37 degrees.

However, CBS 2's Lonnie Quinn predicts gusty winds will make Friday feel just as cold as Thursday. A high of 37 combined with gusts of 20 mph will give a real feel of 27 degrees to exposed skin, Quinn reported.

By Saturday, temperatures will hit 38 before warming up to a high of 40 on Sunday. The early part of next week could see temperatures flirting with the 50-degree mark, according to Quinn's forecast.

Though temperatures are looking better for the end of the week, experts say the cold can be more than uncomfortable. If you have to be outside, you could be at risk for frostbite.

"First thing that happens is frostnip, which is a little redness. Then it progresses -- it can even look like a burn," said Dr. Jennifer Stratton of St. Luke's Hospital. "If you see these symptoms, you want to get away from the cold that you're exposed to."

YOU WON'T HEAR SKIERS COMPLAIN

As old man winter settles in, anxious skiers are finally able to hit the trails at Mahwah's Campgaw Mountain. The slopes just opened last Friday.

"It's probably the latest I can remember us being able to start with the warm temperatures in the month of December," Campgaw general manager Ronald Fuhr told CBS 2's Vanessa Murdock.

Most of the kids out enjoying the fresh snow said they were glad winter has finally taken hold.

"I like New Jersey because sometimes it's warm and sometimes it's cold, but I guess I'll go with cold," 11-year-old Gianna Giampaglia from Upper Saddle River told CBS 2's Murdock.

Many of the parents, on the other hand, said they are waiting with bated breath for beach season.

"I don't know where she got it from, I'm definitely a fan of the warm. Give me the sun any day," Gianna's father, Jerry, told Murdock.

Another father who took his daughter skiing for the first time agreed.

"A margarita on the beach any day," Plainsboro's Michael Cohen said. "I am absolutely sacrificing for my daughter, yes."

With temperatures now consistently dropping below freezing overnight, the snow-making machines are hard at work replenishing the snow throughout the day.

"Everybody that works here is happy now. We got customers coming in the door and everybody can finally enjoy the sport of skiing," Fuhr told Murdock.

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