Authorities are urging tri-state residents to dress in layers and spend as little time outside as possible as dangerously cold weather moves into the region.
Lows across the tri-state are expected to bottom out into the single digits overnight as an arctic front moves in, bringing roaring winds and possible snow showers.
The snow showers may leave a light coating on the ground, causing slippery travel in some spots north and west of the city overnight but few problems for most of the area.
Tuesday will be brutally cold, when temperatures are expected to stall in the low teens. Forecasters say there's a chance the mercury dives near the record low of 6 degrees in Central Park set in 1896, though the low likely falls just short of the 118-year-old mark. Wind gusts are expected to range from 40 to 50 mph, making it feel like 15 degrees below zero in the city and even colder in the suburbs.
Frostbite can set in within 10 minutes in those conditions. Residents should spend as little time as possible outdoors, and when they do have to go outside, they should take adequate precautions against both the wind and the cold. The wind is expected to die down by Tuesday night, but the cold will linger.
Alternate side parking in New York City is suspended Tuesday, and sanitation crews are standing by to address icy roads. New York City's senior centers will only be open for lunch Tuesday beginning at 11 a.m., then will close.
Forecasters expect less brutal weather Wednesday with highs in the mid 20s before temperatures climb back into the mid 30s Thursday, into the 40s Friday and soar back into the 50s by the weekend.
Light snow is possible Thursday night into Friday, though it may change to rain or mix with it in the city and is not expected to result in any significant accumulation. Last week, a winter storm dumped 10 inches of snow on parts of New York City and nearly a foot on parts of Long Island.
