New Yorkers face dangerously bitter cold Friday, with wind chills forecast as low as -15 degrees — and the risk of frostbite in as little as 15 minutes.
The brutal warnings came as the city woke to temps of just 10 degrees, with the wind chill making most of the Big Apple feel like -5 to -10, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast for the East Coast of the US. Fox Weather
Frostbite can occur in just 15 to 30 minutes on exposed skin in such extreme temperatures, officials warned.
New Yorkers walk after snow falls in New York City on Jan. 29, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
Fortunately, the big chill at least comes with less likelihood that the city will be battered by heavy snow for the second week running.
Less than an inch is now expected in the Tri-State area, with most small accumulations expected on eastern Long Island and southeastern Connecticut, according to the NWS.
A tugboat navigates ice in the Hudson River on Jan. 29, 2026. REUTERS
However, biting north wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour are still expected to pound the region.
The Big Apple is shivering through what’s likely to be the longest stretch of subfreezing temperatures in eight years.
The skyline of New York City on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. Getty Images
New York City is forecast to see 12 consecutive days with high temps below freezing — the most since a 14-day stretch in January 2018, according to AccuWeather.
City officials urged residents to dress warm and to check in on neighbors, friends, and relatives — especially older adults and people with disabilities during the frigid temperatures
Mayor Zohran Mamdani waves during a visit to the Department of Sanitation on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. AP
Older adults, infants and those with chronic cardiovascular conditions are at increased risk, as are those with drug and alcohol problems and people with disabilities, officials warned.