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Subzero Wind Chill Engulfs NYC, With Possible "Significant" Snowfall On The Way
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Jan 29, 2021
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Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Jan 29, 2021
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Our unusually mild January is ending on a frosty note, as an Arctic air mass swallows New York City for the next few days, followed by a potentially significant snow event early next week.
Before we get to the snow, we'll have to endure a period of extreme cold weather, as you've likely experienced if you've been outside since last night. Temperatures are predicted to remain in the teens through Saturday, with a "real feel" dropping as low as -5 degrees, thanks to the "coldest air mass of the season," according to the National Weather Service.
Wind gusts could reach 50 miles per hour, prompting a wind advisory through 4 p.m. on Friday. The city's emergency management department is reminding New Yorkers to secure loose objects and to look out for their neighbors.
"We want New Yorkers to stay safe so please remain inside as much as possible. If you do go outdoors, layer up and wear a face covering," Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi said in a statement. "Call 311 if your heat at home isn’t working. New Yorkers should also call 311 if they see someone outdoors who appears to be experiencing homelessness.”
Meanwhile, a storm system is currently developing in the Western part of the country, which could potentially lead to a "high impact winter storm" in our region, per New York Metro Weather.
AccuWeather's models are also picking up "an increasing threat for a significant and potentially prolonged coastal storm system to impact the region starting late Sunday into Tuesday."
Though a good amount of uncertainty remains, that could mean anywhere between 6 and 10 inches of snow, beginning as soon as Sunday night.
Will our new Arctic buddy make a home in NYC now? We need to keep the good omens coming.
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Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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