Danger lurks around every corner as a frigid cold snap is set to grip New York City and its surrounding areas this weekend. With temperatures plummeting to levels not seen in years, officials are urging residents to take extreme precautions when venturing outdoors.
According to the National Weather Service, an Arctic cold front will sweep through the region on Saturday morning, bringing a brief window of snowfall before the mercury drops into the single digits. By evening, temperatures could drop as low as 10 degrees, with lows expected to reach a bone-chilling 5 degrees by Sunday morning.
The harsh conditions are set to be made worse by strong winds gusting up to 20mph, which will push real-feel temperatures down to minus 15 or minus 20 degrees. This means that even brief periods spent outside could lead to hypothermia and frostbite in as little as 15-30 minutes.
In a stark warning, New York Governor Kathy Hochul cautioned residents that the cold snap is "going to be bitter" and urged them to stay indoors from Friday to Monday. She noted that temperatures are expected to rebound starting Tuesday, but warned that even daytime highs may not reach the nearly 40-degree average for this time of year.
The harsh conditions have already claimed lives, with 17 people found dead outside in the past two weeks under similarly extreme cold snaps. The city is taking steps to address these deaths, including adjusting housing inspectors' schedules to deal with a record number of complaints about lack of heat and hot water.
Residents are also being asked to check on their neighbors, pets, and elderly or vulnerable individuals who may be at risk from the cold. The City is urging residents to bundle up in layers, limit exposed skin, and take precautions to stay safe while outdoors.
The New York City Ferry service remains suspended due to ice in the city's waterways, with plans to resume service gradually next week, likely starting with limited or modified routes.
According to the National Weather Service, an Arctic cold front will sweep through the region on Saturday morning, bringing a brief window of snowfall before the mercury drops into the single digits. By evening, temperatures could drop as low as 10 degrees, with lows expected to reach a bone-chilling 5 degrees by Sunday morning.
The harsh conditions are set to be made worse by strong winds gusting up to 20mph, which will push real-feel temperatures down to minus 15 or minus 20 degrees. This means that even brief periods spent outside could lead to hypothermia and frostbite in as little as 15-30 minutes.
In a stark warning, New York Governor Kathy Hochul cautioned residents that the cold snap is "going to be bitter" and urged them to stay indoors from Friday to Monday. She noted that temperatures are expected to rebound starting Tuesday, but warned that even daytime highs may not reach the nearly 40-degree average for this time of year.
The harsh conditions have already claimed lives, with 17 people found dead outside in the past two weeks under similarly extreme cold snaps. The city is taking steps to address these deaths, including adjusting housing inspectors' schedules to deal with a record number of complaints about lack of heat and hot water.
Residents are also being asked to check on their neighbors, pets, and elderly or vulnerable individuals who may be at risk from the cold. The City is urging residents to bundle up in layers, limit exposed skin, and take precautions to stay safe while outdoors.
The New York City Ferry service remains suspended due to ice in the city's waterways, with plans to resume service gradually next week, likely starting with limited or modified routes.
oh man, this cold snap sounds super intense... like 5 degrees?! that's crazy! I'm not surprised they're warning people about hypothermia and frostbite tho, I mean we've seen it happen before in other parts of the world. it's always a good idea to check on those who are more vulnerable, like elderly folks or pets 
. and yeah, housing inspectors taking extra precautions makes sense, can't have anyone freezing to death because their heat isn't working properly 
. suspension of ferry service is pretty inconvenient too... hope it doesn't cause any major disruptions. stay warm, NYC! 
! I mean 5 degrees? That’s like, really cold for nyc winters we’re used to. And the strong winds too? Like, I don’t even wanna go outside right now 
. I feel bad for all those people who are already struggling and can’t afford a heater or hot water 
. The gov is doing what they gotta do tho, adjusting schedules and all that. But still, it’s just so... harsh 
. And the fact that 17 ppl have lost their lives already? No words 
. We gotta look out for each other during this time, check on our neighbors and pets and all that 
. Can we even get the ferry service back up to normal anytime soon tho? Like, I need my subway rides back 
u guys gotta be careful out there this weekend!! temps are gonna be CRAZY low like 5 degrees and those winds will make it feel even colder like -15°C 
. dont be that person who's all "oh I'll just take a quick walk outside" no way, hypothermia is no joke. make sure ur neighbors r good too, elderly ppl or pets cant handle this kinda cold. also, if u gotta go out, dress in layers lol like wut r u even doing?! bundle up and stay safe. and btw, dont underestimate those strong winds they can catch u off guard 
. The ferry suspension is the cherry on top of this cold cake - just what I needed, more reasons to stay indoors and play video games all day 
.
. Like, who even thought it was a good idea to leave NYC without proper layers? The gov is being super chill about this one though, just casually telling us to bundle up and not go outside unless absolutely necessary 
. I mean, 17 people have died in the past two weeks already? Can't wait for this to pass and get back to our normal slightly-less-deadly winter days 
.
️ and hope the city can handle all these deaths 
. And omg, have you guys checked on your neighbors yet? Like, if they're elderly or something, we gotta make sure they're good 
. My neighbor lady is 82 and she's always been super independent but I know my mom would freak out if anything happened to her 
. Just stay indoors, grab a hot cuppa (or five), and let the city freeze for once – we don't need you going out there to be a human popsicle 
.