Bitter Cold Spurs Cancellation Of Polar Bear Plunges In New Jersey; Coney Island Plunge Still On

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Some polar bear plunges in the Tri-State Area have been called off due to extreme cold in the forecast, but the New Year's Day plunge at Coney Island is still on.

A fundraising event planned in Brigantine for New Year's Day will now be held Jan. 13.

The switch comes after two other nearby towns — Ocean City and Ventnor — canceled plunges that were also scheduled for Monday. Those events have not been rescheduled and it's not clear if they will be held.

Ocean City said on Facebook that all other events will continue as scheduled.

Officials in the three towns cited concerns about the safety of participants who would be jumping into the Atlantic Ocean.

But the 114th annual Polar bear New Year's Day Plunge at Coney Island, Brooklyn, will go on as planned.

Participants are invited to celebrate the New Year by "rushing into the Mighty Atlantic with 4,000 other brave souls to help raise funds for the 'People's Playground,'" as organizers put it.

Advance registration is required for the Coney Island event. There is no fee for swimmers or observers, but registration is required to swim.

Participants may register in advance with a minimum $25 pledge, or they may register onsite on New Year's Day morning after 10 a.m.

A polar bear plunge planned for Monday in Atlantic City is also still due to take place.

The forecast for Monday calls for a high of around 20 degrees while water temperature likely will be in the mid-40s. Polar bear plunges planned for Monday in Atlantic City and Margate are still due to take place.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)