Bitterly Cold Wind Chills Will Be Successively Followed By Considerable Alterations In Weather System

Extremely low wind chill temperatures are expected to persist in the area on Saturday, Feb. 4 before temperatures warm significantly.

Wind chill temperatures of 25 degrees below zero have been reported early this Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service stated that exposed skin could experience frostbite in a mere half an hour, due to the coldness of the wind chill.

From mid-morning onwards, the temperature will rise incrementally, with most places experiencing a maximum of around 20 degrees on Saturday. However, the wind chill values will be in the lower teens and single digits.

The winds on Saturday will be weaker than they were on Friday, Feb. 3, with winds around 10 to 15 mph and gusts of approximately 25 mph.

It should be sunny in spite of this, however, and it will remain chilly at night with a minimum temperature of around 25°F and the sky becoming cloudier.

A partial clearing of the clouds and temperatures hovering in the 40s is expected to start on Sunday, Feb. 5.

Wind speeds will remain elevated in the teens, giving the impression of temperatures in the twenties.

Monday, Feb. 6 is anticipated to be mostly sunny with an estimated mid-40 degree high.

Tuesday, Feb. 7 is expected to have temperatures staying in the mid-40s, with the potential for temperatures to increase to the low 50s on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

AAA advises drivers to be aware that the current weather conditions present a substantial challenge for all vehicles, particularly for those that are electric. Batteries typically experience up to 30% less energy when temperatures drop to freezing and the effect is even more extreme when temperatures reach 0; it can make starting an electric car nearly impossible.

The outside temperature dropping is tough on tires; for every ten-degree drop, tires lose one pound per square inch of air pressure. As a result, AAA reminds drivers to check their tire pressure before they venture out.

Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted on Friday, imploring New Yorkers to "minimize exposure to the outdoors, put on warm clothing and exercise precaution while using alternative heating methods."

The MTA cautions that rapid temperature fluctuations this weekend could lead to service delays, thus passengers should keep themselves informed on their respective trains or buses to avoid standing outside in the cold.

The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North are staffing up significantly in order to avoid service disruptions due to track, power, and communication difficulties. As MTA CEO Janno Lieber puts it, "we need to be able to address any kind of freezing of switches or other issues that could impact service."