Big Chill in the Northeast: What's behind it and how to cope
The National Weather Service says the coldest air mass of the winter may hit the Eastern U.S. this weekend.
The National Weather Service says the coldest air mass of the winter may hit the Eastern U.S. this weekend.
The National Weather Service says the coldest air mass of the winter may hit the Eastern U.S. this weekend.
A wind chill advisory was in effect for New York City beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing to noon Sunday. With the actual temperatures falling as low as 4 degrees below, the weather service says the city could see wind chills of 18 degrees below to 24 degrees below. Wind gusts may reach 45 mph.
The National Weather Service says:
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned New Yorkers to take "extreme precautions" over the weekend and heed cold-weather warnings. He said city workers would also bring people living on the street to shelters or hospitals.
Racing officials have canceled all races at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack because of extreme cold and high winds.
The New York Racing Association says there will be no live racing at Aqueduct on Saturday "out of an abundance of caution" for horses and jockeys. Daytime high temperatures were expected to be around 20 degrees in New York.
Racing is scheduled to resume on Sunday but officials say they will continue to monitor weather reports.
The bitter cold is expected to settle in over the next several days but temperatures are forecast to rise by Monday.
Jon Erdman of The Weather Channel explains the big chill over the Northeast and the relationship with the polar vortex:
But in February 2016, the polar vortex has weakened, notes Mr. Erdman.聽
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency urged聽residents to take precautions during this period of extreme cold weather.