Frozen in the Big Apple

New York City has been grappling with temperatures below freezing since Friday and it looks like this chilly spell will last into early next week as an influx of arctic air blankets the area.

If the temperature stays below 32 degrees next Monday, it would mark an impressive 12 days of frigid weather—something not seen in the city since 2003, noted AccuWeather meteorologist Chad Merrill.

A stratospheric polar vortex is making its way toward North America, resulting in what Merrill describes as a “cold outbreak” across the eastern United States. He elaborates that a significant ridge of high pressure is forming over Alaska and the West, pushing cold air directly into the region.

The connection to the polar vortex explains the extended freeze, which brings with it several days of biting cold. This cold air mass, released from the poles, is certainly making its presence known.

Forecasts indicate that temperatures will hover in the 20s until Sunday, with nighttime lows dropping into the teens and even single digits on some nights. As daunting as 12 consecutive days of below-freezing temperatures may sound, it’s worth noting that it’s not a record. The longest stretch of subzero temperatures in Central Park was 16 days back in 1961, according to the National Weather Bureau.

The chill has lingered following Winter Storm Fern, which dumped over a foot of snow across various parts of the city on Sunday and Monday.

Looking ahead, Merrill predicts another round of winter storms may come through Saturday evening into Sunday, with chances for more than three inches of snow ranging between 20 to 40 percent, especially as a low-pressure system develops offshore. The situation looks likely to be more severe on Long Island, where the potential for precipitation is higher.

This impending winter storm coincides with the full moon on February 1, which could further complicate conditions along the coast. Even if snow amounts are minimal, Merrill warns of potential coastal erosion and flooding.