Marvin Bernstein, of Wantagh, holds his hand to his face...

Marvin Bernstein, of Wantagh, holds his hand to his face as he walks in Heritage Park, in Mount Sinai. (Jan. 15, 2012) Credit: Newsday/Ed Betz

Blame Canada.

That's the official word from the National Weather Service, where meteorologists say near-freezing temperatures Sunday and early Monday are the product of a fast-moving cold front coming down from our neighbor to the north.

Meteorologist Peter Wichrowski said the mercury fell to 17 degrees early Sunday morning in Islip, with readings in the single digits or below are expected in the Pine Barrens Monday morning.

The rest of Long Island was seeing temps in the low-to-mid-teens early Monday.

Sunday was the coldest day yet for the winter season, but it was nowhere near breaking the daily record of minus 11 degrees in 1965 at Upton's Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Wichrowski said we'll see warmer temperatures Monday, when we can expect some rain at night, and on Tuesday, when highs could reach into the 40s. From there, it drops back into the 30s.

On the bright side, no snow is forecast for at least the next 10 days. Last January was the snowiest on record for Long Island.

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Lasting tribute in Oakdale ... What's in the store with the weather ... Out East: Shellfish surprise Credit: Newsday

Knicks back in finals for first time since 1999 ... Ticket prices through MSG roof! ... Blakeman's agenda for 'new' NY ... Out East: Shellfish surprise

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