NEW YORK -- We're on Red Alert for dangerously cold temperatures for the first half of the weekend.
The arctic blast shattered records throughout the Northeast, most notably on Mount Washington, New Hampshire, where the actual temperature dropped to -46 degrees, with a wind chill of -108. That wind chill is likely the lowest wind chill ever recorded in the United States.
Records were also broken in numerous cities in our region, including Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the mercury dipped to -4.
Mayor Eric Adams joins asylum seekers at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
Mayor Eric Adams spent Friday night alongside asylum seekers at the new Brooklyn shelter after some raised concerns about temperatures there.
Adams shared video of his experience on Twitter.
Cold starting to retreat
We are still in the midst of an impressive arctic blast, but thankfully the cold is already starting to retreat.
This arctic blast has shattered records throughout the Northeast, most notably on Mount Washington, New Hampshire, where the actual temperature dropped to -46 degrees, with a wind chill of -108. That wind chill is likely the lowest wind chill ever recorded in the United States.
Records were also broken in numerous cities in our region, including Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the mercury dipped to -4.
Central Park saw a low of 3 degrees Saturday morning, which is not only the lowest temp so far this winter, but the lowest temp since 2019.
As mentioned above, the cold is in the process of retreating, and Saturday night will feature rising temperatures and increasing clouds. Our forecast low of 24 is likely to occur in the late evening.
For Sunday, temps will rebound very nicely into the mid- and upper 40s, which will almost feel like a heatwave after what we endured for the last 24 hours. Expect a mix of sun and clouds, with a steady breeze developing in the afternoon.
Just plain cold!
It's just plain cold! We started off a 4 degrees Saturday morning in New York City, with wind chills as low as -15 and even down to -30 far north and west.
The good news is this latest arctic blast is very short lived and temps will only go up from here.
This afternoon will be mostly sunny, breezy, and frigid. We'll continue with the Red Alert due to the very low wind chills, although the worst is now past and things will be improving.
Still, it's plenty cold with wind chills ranging from -5 to 15 degrees this afternoon. Highs will be in the low 20s.
Heading through tonight, clouds will begin to increase and temps will gradually climb. We'll be in the 20s this evening with temps rising to around 30 by very early Sunday morning.
As for Sunday itself, we'll have partly to mostly cloudy skies at times with a rapid rebound! Highs tomorrow will be in the mid to upper 40s!
The mild stretch rolls right through next week with temps staying in the 40s and 50s.
So just bundle up today and we'll bounce back nicely tomorrow. Have a great weekend!
Brooklyn apartments lose power again
On the coldest morning of the year so far, residents of Brooklyn's Spring Creek Towers have been dealing with power outages.
After a brief outage overnight, the massive housing complex lost electricity for a second time Saturday.
With temperatures outside feeling well-below freezing, there's urgency to restore power as soon as possible.
Saturday morning update
Brooklyn apartments briefly lose power
On the coldest morning of the year so far, residents of Brooklyn's Spring Creek Towers dealt with a brief power outage.
According to the FDNY, the outage happened on Van Siclen Avenue in East New York at around 2:45 a.m Saturday and affected the massive housing complex.
Repairs were completed at around 4 a.m. to the relief of families who were grateful for the quick fix.
Dropping temperatures can have dangerous consequences
These dropping temperatures may make Bryant Park look like a winter wonderland, but weather like this can also have dangerous consequences.
If you've been outside Friday, you know it's cold, but inside Hilda Martinez's Inwood apartment, she still has no relief.
"We don't have no heat," she said.
Radiators are cool to the touch in the 97-year-old grandma's apartment at the Dyckman Houses. She says its been a problem every winter since 1989, and even has the newspaper clippings to prove it.
"It comes and goes, but this time, it's terrible because it's very cold," Martinez said.
A NYCHA spokesman told us crews are being deployed to Martinez's building to check the heating system, and service is expected to be restored by Saturday at all of its buildings with reported heating outages.
Over at the Moore Houses in the Bronx, resident Anthony Rullan says, "It felt like we were living in Alaska."
The heat was just starting to come on at 8 p.m. for 500 residents who had been without it all week.
"People are sleeping with coats and blankets and everything," Rullan said.
Earlier Friday, commuters mustered through the wind to make it home.
"It feels like a walk-in freezer," tourist Jalyne Michelle said.
Upper West Side resident Olivia Levine said her child never asks for his jacket, but Friday, "this is the first day he's ever asked for his jacket, so I know he's cold."
The MTA warns extreme temperature changes may cause service delays this weekend, so riders should check for updates on their trains and buses to avoid waiting out in the cold.
"Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North are bringing in a ton of extra people to make sure that they can be paying attention to possible issues with the track, with the power and the communication systems and to, if and when there are freezing of switches or other conditions that would impact on service," MTA CEO Janno Lieber said.
As for drivers, AAA cautions that this weather will challenge all vehicles, especially electric cars. Batteries lose up to 30% of power when temperatures hit the freezing point and 60% when temps hit 0. That can make it very hard if not impossible to start a car.
"Heat the vehicle while it's still charging, then when you're on the road, don't use the vehicle heater, use the seat heats to stay warm," said Robert Sinclair, with AAA.
How the frigid temperatures could affect your commute
The frigid temperatures could affect your ride home Friday evening.
It's one of those rare days when commuters actually want to spend time down in the subway station because at least it's warmer and less windy, but weather like this isn't good for trains or cars, so city officials are preparing the rails and warn drivers should prepare their cars for tonight's commute.
"When you have extreme temperature variations like we will and going into the 50s next week, track and switches in particular are places that will have our emergency crews prepared to the extent we have any switch or track issues," New York City Transit President Richard Davey said.
The MTA is warning extreme temperature changes may cause service delays, so check for updates on your train or bus before you're stuck waiting out in the cold.
Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North are bringing in lots of extra people Friday and this weekend to respond to potential track and power issues due to this cold and wind.
Because of the extreme wind, the MTA is banning empty tractor trailers on all bridges until 11 p.m. Friday, and pedestrian walkways on most of the bridges will be closed.
As for drivers, AAA warns this weather will challenge all vehicles, especially electric cars. Batteries lose up to 30% of power when temperatures hit the freezing point and 60% when temps hit 0. That can make it very hard if not impossible to start a car.
"It's important when you're charging that vehicle and going out on a very cold day that you heat up the vehicle before you get on the road ... Heat the vehicle while it's still charging, then when you're on the road, don't use the vehicle heater, use the seat heats to stay warm," said Robert Sinclair, with AAA.
CBS2's Ali Bauman asked people what commuting feels like when it's this cold and windy.
"It's crazy. Everybody's rushing," Upper West Side resident Alex Lallave said.
"It feels like a walk-in freezer," tourist Jalyne Michelle said.
"I just wanna stay down there. I take the tunnels moreso instead of walking in the outdoors," Upper West Side resident Olivia Levine said.
Levine said her child never asks for his jacket, but Friday, "this is the first day he's ever asked for his jacket, so I know he's cold."
This weather is also really bad for tires. For every 10 degrees the air drops outside, tires lose about 1 pound per square inch of air pressure, so AAA advises drivers check their tire pressure before you head out.
Check out our cold weather preparedness tips
The time is now to mentally and physically prepare yourself and your home for this brutal cold.
Check out some tips in the link below.
Hochul says New Yorkers should limit time outside
Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted Friday urging New Yorkers to "limit time outdoors, wear layers & use caution with alternative heat sources."
MTA preparing for cold
The MTA released a list of service changes Friday morning ahead of the frigid weekend.
- 3 trains are not running overnight
- 7 trains are not running between 34 St-Hudson Yards and Queensboro Plaza
- A trains are not running between Inwood-207 St and 168 St
- D trains aren't stopping at Coney Island-Stillwell Av
- J trains aren't running between Hewes St and Broad St
- M trains aren't running between Myrtle Av and Delancey St-Essex St
CLICK HERE for more information.
Checking your car's batteries, tires
The weather can be dangerous for drivers. As temperatures drop, so do things like your car's tire pressure and battery life.
According to AAA, the battery loses 30% of its power when temperatures hit freezing and 60% when they dip down to zero.
AAA Northeast's Robert Sinclair Jr. spoke with CBS News New York about how to make sure your batteries are ready, and how to extend the range of electric vehicles in the cold.
He also talked about what to look for in your tires before hitting the road and what to do if you break down, including what you should keep in your car.
Watch his full interview above for more information.
NYC Code Blue
When cold temperatures reach freezing or lower, New York City triggers a "Code Blue" to make sure anyone in need of assistance has the shelter they need.
According to nyc.gov, the following help is made more available for the homeless:
- Shelters: During a Code Blue, homeless adults can access any shelter location for single individuals.
- Beds are available system-wide to accommodate anyone brought in by outreach teams or walk-ins.
- Drop-in centers: All drop-in centers are open 24 hours a day when Code Blue procedures are in effect, taking in as many as people as possible for the duration of inclement weather. Drop-in staff also can make arrangements for homeless individuals at other citywide facilities.
- Safe havens and stabilization beds: Chronically homeless individuals may be transported to these low-threshold housing options, where they may go directly from the street to a bed.
- New Yorkers should call 911 if they see someone in need of medical assistance, and 311 to have a HOME-STAT outreach team engage a homeless individual about going to a shelter and receiving homelessness services.