We suggest no heater!
New York City is currently experiencing a severe cold snap, with temperatures set to plunge to as low as -15 degrees on Sunday. Unfortunately, this frigid spell shows no signs of letting up.
According to AccuWeather, wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph will batter the Atlantic coast until Sunday night. The high temperature isn’t expected to rise above 11 degrees.
“Frostbite can set in pretty quickly, so it’s wise to limit skin exposure,” said meteorologist Peyton Simmers. “Hypothermia is, of course, another risk that can develop just as fast.”
In such extreme weather, frostbite could affect exposed skin in just over half an hour, putting those who spend extended time outside at higher risk for hypothermia.
Last weekend’s severe cold and snowfall resulted in the deaths of 10 New Yorkers, six of whom were without homes. This happened after Mayor Zoran Mamdani scrapped a policy that previously compelled individuals at risk due to the weather to seek shelter.
Sunday marks the ninth consecutive day where temperatures in the city have failed to hit freezing, with experts suggesting this streak could last as long as 21 days, potentially shattering previous records.
Historically, New York City’s longest cold streaks were noted as 16 days in 1961, 15 days in 1881, and 14 days in 2018.
The current cold stretch began on January 24, and could extend until February 14.
There’s a slim chance the streak may break on Groundhog Day, February 2, when temperatures might just touch 32 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
“I think he’ll see his shadow, meaning it’s six more weeks of winter,” Simmers joked about Staten Island Chuck, the famous weather prognosticator.
Looking ahead, another blast of arctic air is expected to sweep into New York City late next week, potentially affecting the area by Friday, February 6, and lasting into Sunday, AccuWeather reports.
“Cold weather doesn’t really disappear that quickly,” Simmers noted.
