Forecast: Brutal cold impacting much of nation to arrive on LI

The arctic air mass responsible for bringing a deep chill to parts of the nation this week is paying a visit to Long Island beginning Thursday night.

The National Weather Service, in a Thursday evening advisory, warned of severe cold that could freeze any leftover rain and snow from Thursday morning, making for dangerous driving and walking into the Friday morning commute.

"North winds around 10 mph and falling temperatures will result in wind chills dropping from the single digits overnight to around 5
below zero during the early morning hours Friday," the advisory said.

And the brutal cold isn't leaving anytime soon.

Friday should be partly sunny. But the daytime high will be just 25 and the wind chill will be the same: zero to 10 degrees, forecasters said. North winds could reach 14 mph.

Friday night the temperature will sink to 14 — winds could gust to 15 mph, forecasters said. And the story is the same for Saturday. It will be sunny but the daytime high should hit just 28 and a low of 18 at night.

Sunday is relatively milder and more seasonable. Look for sunshine and a high of 34. But Sunday night will cloudy, with a low of 21, as a cold front brings "a reinforcing shot of cold air into early next week," forecasters said.

Monday should be mostly sunny with a high of 30; that night, look for more clouds and a low of 20.

Temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday will mirror Monday's, with daytime peak temperatures struggling to get out of the high 20s and lows in the teens.

Tuesday, there is also a 50% chance for snow or a rain/snow mix before clearing skies Wednesday, when the sun returns and a slightly milder 31 for a high.

And then, "a new lobe of arctic high pressure may swing down from Canada as we get into late next week," the weather service said.

With Joan Gralla