Extreme Cold Warnings Issued for New York, Pennsylvania, New England, and the Mid-Atlantic as Arctic Air Follows Weekend Cold Front

UNITED STATES — Bitterly cold Arctic air is set to surge into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic this weekend, following the passage of a strong cold front that will usher in dangerously cold wind chills and life-threatening conditions for exposed skin.

Weather alerts now stretch across large portions of New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and surrounding states, with Extreme Cold Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories in effect.

Arctic Air and Strong Winds Create Life-Threatening Conditions

According to the forecast discussion and hazard map, the combination of frigid temperatures and strong winds will drive wind chills to dangerously low levels, significantly increasing the risk of:

• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Rapid heat loss on exposed skin

Wind chills in the hardest-hit areas are expected to reach levels capable of causing frostbite in a short period of time.

States Under Extreme Cold Warnings

The darkest shading on the map highlights regions under Extreme Cold Warnings, including:

• Much of New York State, including interior and upstate areas
• Large portions of Pennsylvania
• Interior New England, including parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts

These areas are expected to experience the most dangerous wind chills as the Arctic air mass settles in.

Cold Weather Advisories Extend South and West

Lighter shading indicates Cold Weather Advisories extending into:

• New Jersey
• Maryland
• Virginia
• Portions of the Ohio Valley
• Parts of North Carolina

While conditions in these areas may not meet extreme warning criteria, prolonged exposure outdoors could still be hazardous.

Timing: Cold Peaks After Front Passage

The coldest conditions are expected after the cold front clears the region, allowing Arctic air to spill southward. Overnight and early morning hours will be especially dangerous due to:

• Radiational cooling
• Persistent gusty winds
• Subfreezing temperatures lasting for extended periods

Safety Officials Urge Precautions

With wind chills posing a life-threatening risk, residents across the affected states are urged to:

• Limit time outdoors
• Dress in multiple layers, including face and hand protection
• Check on vulnerable populations, including the elderly and unhoused
• Bring pets indoors

What to Watch Going Forward

Forecasters will continue monitoring how long the Arctic air remains locked in place and whether wind speeds stay elevated enough to maintain extreme wind chill values.

WaldronNews.com will provide updates on cold warnings, advisories, and any changes to the threat level as the weekend unfolds across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.