Extreme Cold Coming Thursday Warrants Warning From NYC OEM
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Just when you thought it couldn't get any colder, sub-zero wind chills will grip the Tri-State Area on Thursday prompting New York City Office of Emergency Management to issue an advance warning.
The city issued a cold weather alert for extremely cold temperatures and subzero wind chills that are expected to set in on Thursday afternoon and continue through the night.
Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 35 or 40 mph are expected, the OEM said.
Temperatures hover around zero in the city Thursday night, but wind chills are expected to drop to between minus 15 and minus 20, the OEM said.
Even during the day Friday, the high will only be around 15 degrees with wind chills making it feel as frigid as 2 degrees, the OEM said.
CBS2's Lonnie Quinn said several low temperature records for the date may be broken on Friday, including Central Park, where the record low for the date is 7 degrees and the forecast low is 4.
Also set to hit record lows are Bridgeport, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey, both of which have a forecast low of 0 degrees and a record for the date of 2 and 5 degrees, respectively. LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports both have record lows for the date of 7 degrees, but will likely see 2 and 3 degrees Friday, respectively.
City residents were asked to exercise caution during the extreme cold weather and check on neighbors, friends and relatives – especially the elderly and those with disabilities.
The extreme cold has already led to a spike in certain kinds of emergencies. As WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported, the American Red Cross of Greater New York has experienced double the amount of cases it would normally handle over the past three days.
"On a normal day here in Greater New York, we respond to, on average, seven responses," said Red Cross spokesman John Miler. "Over the last three days, we responded to 41 different types of local disasters."
Miller said the disasters include instances related to fires, water main breaks, and carbon monoxide emergencies.
"Please heat your home safely," Miller said. "Use traditional methods of heating."
He also said if travel is necessary, remember to keep the gas tank full and have a kit in your car with a blanket, a flashlight, water and snacks.
Extreme Cold Coming Thursday Warrants Warning From NYC OEM
The extreme cold on Thursday will be the result of a rush of arctic air, following a system of snow showers that will bring accumulations of up to an inch Wednesday night, CBS2 Meteorologist Justin Lewis reported.
On Saturday, afternoon snow showers are anticipated with a mixed bag of precipitation at night. Sunday looks to be the more unsettled half of the weekend with mixed precipitation and rain – but also a return of the tropical-seeming 40s.
