Long Island weather: Brutal cold Friday, Saturday with below-zero wind chills
With a hot beverage and the rays of the afternoon sun to warm them, Mandy Berges, left, and Joe Salfaro, both of Rocky Point, stopped to sit on a bench in Port Jefferson Village where they came to walk their dog Maggie on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. While temperatures were around 40 degrees in Port Jefferson at the time, much colder weather is on the horizon. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
After an unseasonably mild January, brutal cold is coming to the region Friday through Saturday, with wind chills potentially reaching more than 20 below zero on some parts of Long Island, along with up to 45 mph gusts before the arctic air leaves Sunday.
The "dangerously cold" temperatures settle over the region Friday, with the mercury dropping into the teens during the day and into the early evening, according to the National Weather Service in Upton.
By overnight Friday, temperatures across the island could reach the low single digits with wind chills making it feel as cold as 25 below zero in Montauk, the weather service said. The worst cold will be between 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday, forecasters said.
A weakening line of snow showers will work through the area overnight Friday, with the highest potential for any snow in areas north and west of the city, the weather service said.
"Can we get some flurries or a quick snow shower? We could, but it's a very low chance," said Jay Engle, a weather service meteorologist. "The most impactful thing we are looking at are gusts as high as 40 to 45 miles per hour on the East End, making the wind chill feel brutal out there Friday and Friday night."
The weather service advised that hypothermia is possible if proper precautions are not taken and that frostbite can occur in as little as 15 to 30 minutes on exposed skin. Poorly insulated water lines along exterior walls could also freeze and burst.
The extreme cold also brings an increased risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning from alternative heating sources, such as portable space heaters and fuel-burning appliances, state officials said.
"New Yorkers across the state will experience dangerously cold temperatures and life-threatening wind chills this weekend," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "Now is the time to prepare: plan to limit your time outdoors this weekend and know where to take shelter."
Warming centers will be opened across the island, including in Hempstead, Hicksville, Wantagh, Uniondale, Huntington and Riverhead, town and county officials said.
Ahead of the cold snap, homeless advocates on Long Island have been reaching out to those living on the streets to provide them with resources to survive the extreme weather.
The winds should begin to subside Saturday, when highs in the mid-20s are predicted. Warmer air is expected overnight and temperatures could be around 32 degrees by the time Long Islanders wake up on Sunday. Highs will then rise into the mid-40s, the weather service said.
"It's going to start to warm up again as we enter Sunday and we get back into 40," said Newsday meteorologist Bill Korbel. "So you just have to get through about 48 hours of this stuff."
By Wednesday, temperatures are expected to rebound into the low 50s, the weather service said.
HOW TO STAY SAFE DURING EXTREME COLD
- Minimize travel.
- Stay indoors during the worst part of the extreme cold.
- Keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle if you must travel.
- Check tire pressure, antifreeze levels, heater/defroster, etc.
- Learn how to shut off water valves for potential pipe bursts.
- Check on the elderly.
- Bring pets inside.
- Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing, and a hat.
- Wear mittens snug at the wrist.
- Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
- Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
Source: National Weather Service
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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