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Photo of cold air mass in New York

Dangerously cold air mass expected to arrive in New York early next week | ANGELA WEISS/AFP

Residents of New York state and New York City should prepare for extreme cold conditions next week, according to data from various weather prediction models. If you’re in New York, get ready because it will be bitterly cold.

The European numerical model (ECMWF) is forecasting temperatures at the 850 mb level (5000 feet) of -23.5°C (-10°F) for the New York City area, which indicates an extremely cold and freezing air mass.

The cold will be strongly felt in New York City starting in the late hours of January 20. January 21 and 22 will be exceptionally cold, with the minimum temperature potentially dropping to 5°F in Central Park. Temperatures below zero can’t be ruled out in areas surrounding New York City.

A light snowfall cannot be ruled out during the quick passage of the cold front on January 20, but no significant accumulation is expected. The wind following the front, bringing in freezing Arctic air, will create dangerously low wind chill temperatures.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), after a brief warm up to end of the week, a strong cold front will usher in a dangerously cold air mass east of the Rockies. Much below normal temperatures are forecast to first arrive in the Northern Plains this weekend and then dive southward and eastward over the following days.

The National Weather Service warns that “hazardous cold temperature and wind chills are anticipated east of the Rockies. Sub-zero temperatures are possible in the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, Midwest, and interior New England. Well-below freezing temperatures are likely as far south as the Gulf Coast”.

Meteorologists from the NWS also stress that “while some moderation in temperatures may occur during the middle of next week, the overall pattern is anticipated to remain favorable for additional cold air oubreaks in the Lower 48 to close the month of January.