Bitter Blast Hits Tri-State With Gusty Winds, Sub-Freezing Temperatures

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A bitter blast of cold Wednesday is bringing the lowest temperatures so far this season.

Temperatures are expected to hit the low 30s, but wind chills will make it feel like it's between 10 and 20 degrees. Winds are expected to be between 25 mph to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

New Yorkers were out braving the cold early Wednesday morning.

"It's like walking into a walk-in freezer," Staten Island resident Dan Elson told CBS2's Janelle Burrell.

"Freezing!" said another woman.

"Oh man, it's frosty," another man told 1010 WINS' John Montone.

Others were doing whatever it takes to keep warm while they stood outside waiting to catch a glimpse of the Yayoi Kusama Festival of Life in Chelsea.

"Very cold but also excited," Katherine Sautkulis from Norwalk, Conn. told CBS2's Vanessa Murdock.

"The wind is what gets you," said Orlando resident Michael Jones.

Tribeca resident Lauren Croke said she had been waiting for an hour.

"I've got my heat tech layers on," she said.

City officials are urging people to stay indoors as much as possible but if you do have to go outside, they say bundle-up and limit skin exposure.

"With low temperatures and even lower wind chills over the next few days, make sure you bundle up outside and wear a hat, scarf and gloves," NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito said in a statement. "Limit your time outdoors if you can, and check in on elderly family members, neighbors, and people with increased health risks to make sure they are protected from the extreme cold."

Officials are also urging people to be on the lookout for flying debris because of the windy conditions.

For more information and safety tips, click here.

Meanwhile, the city's Department of Sanitation has issued a snow alert for Wednesday starting at 11 p.m.

Light snow is expected to fall overnight with temperatures set to drop into the mid 20s.

In:
• John Montone