Dangerously cold weather continues in NYC area Wednesday
NEW YORK -- The cold weather just got even colder around New York City and much of the East Coast.
Wednesday will be another First Alert Weather Day, due to dangerous temperatures.
Some clouds will slightly insulate the area Tuesday night, particularly south and east of the city, where they could even see a few flakes. Despite this, it will be another frigid night with widespread sub-zero wind chills.
When do temperatures start to warm up?
Wednesday will be a slight improvement in that high pressure will keep the winds fairly light. But we're only aiming for about 19 degrees for a high, so it will be bitterly cold either way.
Then, on Thursday, we're stuck in the freezer, but temperatures will be running about 10° warmer. So, a slight improvement.
Thankfully, temperatures will continue to moderate into the weekend.
The bottom line is, it will be cold, and dangerously cold at times, so you'll need to dress in layers and be mindful of exposed skin.
Symptoms of frostbite
CBS News New York's Vanessa Murdock spoke to a doctor about the best ways to protect yourself outdoors and symptoms of cold exposure that should not be ignored.
According to Hackensack University Medical Center Dr. Megan Winters, prolonged exposure to extreme cold can pose serious health risks.
"It's very important when we do go outside to wear lots of layers, have warm clothing, and definitely avoid wetness," Winters said.
She said wet shoes, socks and gloves increase your risk of frostbite.
It's difficult for the body to evaporate that wetness. It breaks down the skin, makes it easier to actually freeze the skin," Winters said.
She said if you start feeling pain in your extremities, fingertips or toes, it is a first sign your body is too cold and can be a symptom of frostbite. Other signs to look out for include tingling, numbness, and change in skin color or texture.
"The one thing to not ignore is shivering. Your body is telling you that something is wrong and activating your nervous system to generate heat for you," Winters said.
Shivering can be a symptom of hypothermia along with slurred speech, slow and shallow breathing, and drowsiness, Winters added.
She said if you or anyone around you experiences any symptoms of hypothermia, or frostbite, get inside and take everything off and make sure you are nice and dry and get warmed up.
Stick with our First Alert Weather team for the latest forecast, live radar and weather alerts.
