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New York woke up this morning inside what feels like a walk-in freezer and, with that in mind, officials are very politely suggesting that everyone stay put. A blast of arctic air has settled over the region, dragging “real feel” temperatures into the teens and keeping actual highs below freezing, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts could hit 28 miles per hour, which means your face will meet the wind and immediately regret it.
City Emergency Management says Monday marks the coldest day in the five boroughs since February. The guidance is straightforward: limit outdoor time and bundle up like you’re starring in a North Face ad. The agency urges New Yorkers to watch for frostbite—numbness, pale or waxy skin—and hypothermia symptoms like shivering, confusion or drowsiness. Anyone spotting those signs should call 911.
Heat rules are also in effect, which means landlords must maintain indoor temperatures of at least 68 degrees during the day when it’s below 55 outside and no lower than 62 degrees overnight, no matter what the thermometer says outdoors. Hot water has its own requirement: a minimum of 120 degrees year-round. If your radiators are suspiciously quiet, dial 311.
Daytime temperatures today will struggle into the upper 20s with wind chills in the teens and Monday night is expected to drop even further as skies clear and winds ease. Morning readings weren’t much friendlier: at 10:51am in Central Park, the temperature sat at 29 degrees F with a wind chill of 20 degrees F, according to NOAA observations.
Transit agencies are bracing as well, Gothamist reports. The MTA says it’s monitoring for weather-related issues across subways, buses and rails, and has told bus operators to keep speeds down, clear frost before leaving the depot and avoid sudden braking on slick stretches. Anyone commuting today might want to pad their travel time and maybe rethink wearing anything that isn’t fleece-lined.
The good news is that this deep freeze won’t last forever. Tuesday should climb into the mid-30s, with wind chills slightly less bitey, and Wednesday may even hit the mid-40s before a likely bout of rain rolls in. Another cool-down is expected later in the week, but today remains the one the city really wants you to take seriously.
If you absolutely must go out, layer up. If you don’t, you’ve just been handed the perfect excuse to stay indoors with something warm.