New York City is heading into a stretch of dangerously cold weather as an arctic blast moves through today. Any leftover snow will taper off early, with little to no additional accumulation expected in the city. The bigger story is not the snow—it’s the sudden and severe drop in temperatures that will make conditions feel harsh and potentially dangerous by late morning and afternoon.

An arctic front will sweep through the city early today, bringing strong, gusty winds and rapidly falling temperatures. Winds could gust up to 40–50 mph, making it feel much colder than the thermometer shows. Temperatures will likely peak early this morning and then fall steadily through the day, dropping into the single digits by evening. With the strong winds, wind chills in New York City will fall to around -10°F, cold enough to cause frostbite on exposed skin in a short amount of time.

The coldest and most dangerous conditions arrive tonight into early Sunday. Wind chills are expected to plunge to -15°F or colder, even along the coast. These levels of cold can be life-threatening if proper precautions aren’t taken. Limit time outdoors, dress in layers, cover exposed skin, and check on vulnerable neighbors, including the elderly and those without reliable heat. Wind conditions will slowly ease overnight, but the bitter cold will remain.

Looking ahead, temperatures will slowly begin to moderate by the middle of next week, though they will still run below normal for this time of year. There are also a few chances for light snow later next week, but confidence is low right now. For the immediate future, the main concern in New York City is clear: extreme cold and dangerous wind chills. Stay informed and stay safe.