NYC Mayor Warns of 'Life-Threatening Wind Chills' Over V-Day Weekend (UPDATES)

Image courtesy of the NWS

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NEW YORK CITY, NY — A “dangerously cold air mass” is headed from Canada down toward the NYC area, and is expected to douse the city in well-below-freezing, probably record-setting temperatures over Valentine’s Day weekend, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

As of late Friday afternoon, the predicted low for Saturday night was 1 degree in Brooklyn and Queens, and 0 degrees in Manhattan.

The high temperature in Brooklyn on Saturday is expected to be around 19 degrees — and on Sunday, Feb. 14, temps aren’t expected to rise above 15 degrees.

But the real danger over V-Day weekend, according to the NWS, will be the wind.

A ”wind chill advisory“ issued Friday for all of New York City warned that between 4 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday, “very cold air and strong winds will combine to generate low wind chills” between -20 and -25 degrees.

NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio issued an advisory of his own Friday afternoon, warning New Yorkers of “dangerously cold” temperatures and “life-threatening wind chills” through the weekend.

“These are not temperatures we see often and New Yorkers should take this weather very seriously,” De Blasio said.

If the air temperature in Manhattan does drop to 0 degrees on Feb. 14, this will be NYC’s coldest Valentine’s Day in recorded history. (A previous record of 2 degrees was set in 1916.)

At 0 degrees, Sunday would also be colder than the coldest day last winter. (Which was reportedly 2 degrees as well.)

“Cold spells of this magnitude bring a risk of frostbite and hypothermia for anyone who does not take proper precautions,” the NWS said.

Venture outdoors without “gloves, a hat and several layers of clothing,” the NWS warned, and “wind chill values late Saturday night into Sunday morning could lead to frostbite in less than 30 minutes.”

Below is the government forecast for Brooklyn over the next week.

Friday Night: A slight chance of snow showers before midnight, then a slight chance of snow showers after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 17. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. West wind 6 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers between 1pm and 2pm. Partly sunny and cold, with a temperature falling to around 12 by 5pm. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Windy, with a northwest wind 24 to 31 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 1. Wind chill values between -10 and -20. Windy, with a northwest wind 23 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph.

Sunday (Valentine’s Day): Sunny and cold, with a high near 15. Wind chill values between -10 and -20. Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Sunday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 13. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Monday: Snow likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Monday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 50. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night: Rain likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: A chance of rain after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

And here’s how you can safely ride out this cold spell, according to city officials.

• Stay indoors as much as possible.

• Prolonged exposure to extreme cold weather can be dangerous. If you suspect a person is suffering from frostbite or hypothermia, call 911 to get medical help. While waiting for assistance, help the person by getting them to a warm place if possible, removing any damp clothing and covering them with warm blankets.

• When outdoors, wear warm clothing and cover exposed skin. Use multiple layers to maintain warmth.

• Wear a hat, hood, or scarf, as most heat is lost through the head.

• Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.

• Keep clothing dry; if a layer becomes wet, remove it.

• Shivering is an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Shivering is a signal to return indoors.

• Drinking alcohol may make you think you feel warmer, but it actually increases your chances of hypothermia and frostbite.

• Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about performing hard work in the cold. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don’t overdo it.

• Workers in construction and utilities, and others who spend a lot of time outdoors are at risk for cold-related disorders. Employers should implement safe work practices, provide appropriate protective equipment, and train workers on health effects of cold weather, proper prevention techniques, and treatment of cold-related disorders.