LONG ISLAND, NY — A blast of frigid Arctic air is expected to blanket Long Island this weekend, forecasters said Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service, an arctic cold front is approaching Thursday and will bring an “extremely cold” air mass to the region Friday through Saturday.
John Cristadello, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Upton, said the arctic cold front will first hit the area late Thursday. By 7 a.m. Friday, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-20s. By noon, temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s and by sunset, into the lower teens. The temperature is expected to range from 0 to around five degrees on Friday night.
“It's going to be a slow drop in temperatures,” Cristadello said.
Wind chills will average 10 degrees Friday morning and drop to about 0 degrees by sunset, he said — then drop to minus-10 to minus-15 late Friday night into the morning. Saturday's. Wind gusts are expected to be between 30 and 35 miles per hour, he said.
Cristantello warned residents to take winter precautions by not leaving exposed skin for extended periods, he said.
The NWS offered two words of sage advice: “Pack up,” it said.
A blast of cold air will move quickly through the region, with temperatures in the low 40s on Sunday. No precipitation is expected.
