STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A dry cold front will sweep through Staten Island Thursday afternoon, bringing plummeting temperatures and wind chills in the single digits by evening. Residents should prepare for potentially record-breaking cold.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will reach the upper 30s to lower 40s Thursday afternoon before dramatically falling into the teens overnight. Northwest winds of 20-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph will develop late Thursday into Thursday evening, creating dangerously cold wind chills. These winds will diminish late Thursday night as high pressure builds in.
The Arctic air mass will remain in place through Friday, with daytime temperatures struggling to reach the lower 30s across Staten Island and New York City. The National Weather Service notes that Friday’s high temperatures may approach daily record low maximum values at some weather stations in the region, highlighting the unusual intensity of this December cold snap.
A weak low pressure system passing well to the south Friday night into Saturday may brush the area with light snow or a rain/snow mix, but little to no accumulation is expected. Temperatures will moderate slightly on Saturday with highs reaching the upper 30s to lower 40s.
Another, stronger cold front will cross the region Sunday night, ushering in another round of frigid air. Monday’s high temperatures may struggle to rise above freezing even at the coast, with lows Monday night falling into the teens and low 20s. Wind chills could reach the single digits to teens Sunday night and Monday night.
Temperatures will begin moderating by Tuesday, with highs rebounding into the 30s. By Wednesday, a clipper system may move across the Northeast, though forecasting models differ on its timing and strength.
The cold temperatures forecast for Friday morning may approach daily record lows in parts of the New York City area, with Central Park’s record standing at 11 degrees set in 1926.