Here Are 6 Bone-Chilling Facts About the Weather Today in NYC

Pedestrians brave the cold during their morning commute, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, in New York. Arctic air and bitterly cold wind is moving across the Northeast, plunging temperatures into record low single digits, accompanied by subzero wind chills. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The bitter arctic to-the-bone chilling frost gripped New York City Friday morning so mercilessly, it made us create this disturbing list. Brace yourself with a mug of hot beverage.

So, how cold is it in the New York City?

It’s so cold that…

1. It broke a record. The temperature dropped to 2 degrees Fahrenheit shortly before 8 a.m. in the Central Park, breaking the record on this same day in 1950, when the National Weather Service (NWS) registered 7 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. It’s a health hazard. The wind chills reached -16 degrees Fahrenheit, making the NWS issue a special announcement. At that temperature exposed skin gets frostbite in about 30 minutes. Wind chills will reach -10 degrees Fahrenheit for the rest of the afternoon, the NWS warned.
3. People use drastic similes without exaggerating. Some commuters in front of Penn Station transit hub spontaneously described the weather as “brutal” or compared it to Siberia. None of them seemed to be joking in the least.
4. Weather maps turned purple. Picture in your mind weather forecast maps showing those nice warm shades of orange in summer and cold shades of blue in the winter. Well, they turned purple for today. The lighter the shade of purple on such maps, the closer you are to an icicle.
5. It’s literally colder than the North Pole. What was the temperature at 10 a.m. on the North Pole? A comfy 8 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Weather.com. New York City? A dreadful 6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NWS.
6. Hudson River froze! Well, almost. Twitter pictures show a majority of the river is covered with ice on the eastern bank along Manhattan.

 

 

#regram via @peeshbklyn - Just look at the frozen #hudsonriver! Incredible view but nooooo thank you! #toocoldforme #bundleup #freezingisland #icyconditions

A photo posted by ltexter1 (@lacijane212) on Feb 20, 2015 at 7:09am PST

Only if the temperature was as beautiful as the sun. #hudsonriver #frozen #iceberg #officeview #turkishairlines pic.twitter.com/DIm74ixcDj

— Frozen Movie (@FrozenMOVlE) February 20, 2015

“Crazy cold New York...” http://t.co/CxmH0Ud2cE #nyc #newyork pic.twitter.com/EPN9K03aVH

— New York, New York (@NYC) February 20, 2015

 

#frozenhudson #winter2015 #wtc #downtown #manhattan #jerseycity #instapic #instascene #instacold #workflow #icy #sunrise #exchangeplace #winter #cold #burr

A photo posted by Jamisonbe® (@jamisonbe) on Feb 20, 2015 at 4:30am PST

Take care of yourself and loved ones. Read these cold weather tips from @NYCHealthy: http://t.co/TMbzFev58f

— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) February 20, 2015

 

In the spirit of companionship, here are some tips on how to survive the frost from the Red Cross’s Abigail Adams:

• If travel is necessary, make sure you have disaster supplies in your vehicle which include: shovel, blanket, flashlight, water, snacks, first aid kit, extra batteries, sack of sand or cat litter.
• Keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.
• Before tackling strenuous tasks in cold temperatures, consider your physical condition, the weather factors, and the nature of the task.
• When shoveling snow, take frequent breaks to avoid risk of injury or cardiac arrest.
• Protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible.
• Bring pets inside during winter weather.
• Make sure coats, gloves or mittens, hats, boots, and warm clothing are available for all household members, along with extra blankets.
• Eat regular meals and stay hydrated, but avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.