New York, NY – I want to let all New Yorkers know that we’ll be experiencing extraordinarily cold weather over the next few days, NYC mayor Bill De Blasio warned in a news conference last night saying this can be life-threatening conditions and people should treat that with all seriousness.
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Friday night into Saturday morning wind chills will be as low as five below zero. But that is not even the worse. The worse will come overnight Saturday into Sunday, The mayor said.
“This will be the coldest time. We’re forecasting the temperatures will plummet to around zero early Sunday morning – zero degrees before the wind chill, Sunday morning. With wind chill factored in, we expect temperatures that could be as low 23 degrees below zero by Sunday morning. But this entire time we’re talking about in these coming days people have to take this very, very seriously.”
“Now, put very simply these , in particular – to seniors, to infants, to people with cardiovascular or lung conditions, and people under the influence of alcohol or drugs, obviously, can be particularly endangered because they would not perceive the full threat they’re facing.”
“So, I’m asking all New Yorkers to please take special care in these coming days. Take care of yourself and your family, but also look out for your neighbors. In each one of these challenges and crises we talk about the importance of looking out for your neighbor, looking out seniors, look out for folks with disabilities, look out for anyone you think may not have heat in their home. We have to really be careful in this timeframe.” The mayor added.
In a Special Weather Statement issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday, the agency warned the cold paired with winds up to 30 mph could be life-threatening for anyone who ventures outside for extended periods of time this weekend.
“Cold spells of this magnitude bring a risk of frostbite and hypothermia for anyone who does not take the proper precautions,” the NWS said, noting that such conditions could lead to frostbite in less than 30 minutes. “Wind chill values during this time could reach life-threatening levels as cold as 20 to 25 below zero.”
In a statement issued Thursday, New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito urged city residents to stay inside this weekend and not put themselves at risk.
“Stay indoors, and if you have to go out, bundle up,” Esposito said. “Remember to check in on your family, neighbors, the elderly or others with increased health risks to make sure they are protected from the cold.
Both the NWS and the city have released a list of things residents should and shouldn’t do during such brutal cold spells, including:
Run water at a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing;
Never venture outdoors without wearing gloves, a hat and several layers of clothing;
Never use a stove or oven to heat your house or an open flame to melt frozen pipes;
Keep a winter safety kit with extra blankets, gloves and warm clothes in your car in case it breaks down or you become stranded;
Don’t let your pets outside for long periods of time;
Don’t drink alcohol and go outside, as inebriation increases your risk for hypothermia;
Avoid sweating, as the moisture on your skin will freeze and dangerously cool your body; and
Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working and that all furnaces and boilers are properly vented to the outdoors.
The cold snap won’t last very long, with temperatures expected to climb into the 40s on Tuesday, as a warm front and offshore storm will combine to bring a heavy rainfall to the area.
COLD FACTS:
– Last time it was 0 degrees in NYC: January 19, 1994
– Coldest temperature last winter: 2 degrees on February 20
The elderly and infirm will do more of a Mitzvah by staying home.
Global warming…yup.