Monday’s Snow Brings January’s Chill to the Tri-State
Cold and Windy Weather Ahead
Monday’s light snow in the tri-state may be over, but the January chill is taking up residence. The air will be dry, with highs stuck below the freezing mark, and winds gusty, leading to some bitterly cold days and frigid mornings. If you haven’t pulled out the winter parka yet, now is the time.
Arctic Air Moves In
Monday’s winter storm brought under an inch of snow to most of the tri-state area. However, as it exits, it also pulls in a rush of arctic air that settles in for days to come. High temperatures will be stuck below the freezing mark until Friday, while overnight low temperatures will be confined to the low 20s and upper teens. And, unfortunately, the actual temperature won’t be the worst of it.
Gusty Winds
Tuesday, winds will gust to between 30 and 40 miles per hour, bringing morning wind chills down to the single digits for most areas and afternoon wind chills in the teens. These wind chills will last through Thursday, as temperatures stay low and winds stay high.
Wind Chills and Preparation
Gusty winds break up the insulating layer of warmth our bodies produce, making our internal temperature more susceptible to the cold air. The value known as the "wind chill" helps communicate the impact the weather will have on our bodies, thus dictating how we should prepare for the day. For days feeling like the teens, we’ll want multiple layers with hats, gloves, and scarves on top.
Friday’s Break from the Cold
By Friday, the winds finally start to let up, and high temperatures manage to swing back above freezing. Technically, this is still below average, but given the preceding days’ frozen temperatures and blustery winds, it’ll come as a welcome change.
Weekend Outlook
We’ll manage to stay precip-free for most of the week, thanks to a high-pressure system to our west that keeps us dry, cold, and windy. By the weekend, this system moves offshore, allowing temps to moderate briefly. This will also be our next chance of picking up some additional snowfall. Even with the "milder" temperatures, we still have plenty of cold air entrenched to make for snow if the right storm were to come along.
Forecast Uncertainty
It’s still too early to be confident that the snowstorm will actually happen. The European and American models are at odds, and even the American model can’t decide exactly which side of the fence it’s on. One thing we’re highly certain of: it’s going to stay cold for the foreseeable future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How cold will it get?
A: High temperatures will be stuck below the freezing mark until Friday, while overnight low temperatures will be confined to the low 20s and upper teens.
Q: How gusty will the winds be?
A: Tuesday, winds will gust to between 30 and 40 miles per hour, bringing morning wind chills down to the single digits for most areas and afternoon wind chills in the teens.
Q: How can I prepare for the cold weather?
A: For days feeling like the teens, wear multiple layers with hats, gloves, and scarves on top.
