Long Island Forecast: Bitter cold arrives this week

Long Islanders should brace themselves for a frigid week as forecasters predict temperatures could drop as low as the single digits.

On Monday, the start of the workweek, sunny skies with highs nearing 30 are forecast, but wind chills will make temperatures feel between 15 to 20 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will drop at night with a low of around 13 degrees and wind chill values expected to be in the single digits. A west wind will range from 10 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced that warming centers will be open 24/7 starting Sunday. The county facilities were to open at 6 p.m. Sunday and remain open until Wednesday.

"Freezing cold temperatures coming to Long Island pose a serious threat to the health and safety of our residents" Blakeman said in a statement. "Our warming centers will be open 24/7 to anyone who may need them so that no Nassau resident is stuck out in the cold."

The warming centers are at Cantiague Park Administration Office, 480 W. John St, Hicksville; Wantagh Park Administration Building, 1 King Rd., Wantagh; and; Mitchel Field Administration Building, 1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Uniondale.

Jim Connolly, of the National Weather Service, said temperatures will be below the weekly average for this time of the year.

Cold weather continues on a sunny Tuesday with a steady temperature around 15. A northwest wind will blow between 11 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 11 degrees.

Temperatures will pick up on Wednesday with forecast highs in the mid 30s and nighttime lows in the mid 20s, according to the weather service.

On Thursday the forecast calls for a mostly cloudy day with highs nearing 40 degrees and lows in the mid 20s at night.

The cold temperatures may lead to some snowfall later in the week, Connolly said, with a slight chance of snow on Thursday night into Friday.

Friday is also forecast to be mostly cloudy with a high in the mid 30s and nighttime lows in the mid 20s.

Snow is currently forecast for Saturday with a 30% chance in the morning and a 50% chance at night. A chance of snow is also predicted for Sunday.