Harsh cold, biting winds to threaten Midwest, Northeast through Saturday

Despite already experiencing some of their coldest weather in recent years, residents of the Midwest and Northeast will be in the grip of fresh arctic air through Saturday.

The arctic air is blasting into the region behind the blizzard that hammered the coastal Northeast on Thursday.

This new wave of cold air will be more extreme than the level of cold experienced at the end of 2017 and start of 2018 in the Midwest, central Appalachians and interior South.

Actual temperatures may reach their lowest point of the season so far in coastal areas of the Northeast, such as in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston during the first part of this weekend.

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be 5 to 20 degrees lower than the actual temperature, especially in parts of the Northeast due to breezy conditions.

In the Northeast, high temperatures in many coastal areas are expected to be in the single digits and teens through Saturday. Only areas near the Chesapeake Bay will sneak into the lower 20s.

Temperatures are anticipated to bottom out Saturday night to Sunday morning in the Northeast.

"On Sunday morning, the record low of 2 below zero set in 1896 may be broken in Boston," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

"Other low temperature records will be challenged as far back as the late 1800s in parts of the Northeast early Sunday," Sosnowski said.

"Areas where there is deep snow on the ground, and where winds diminish and skies become clear can expect temperatures to plummet."

A biting wind will accompany these frigid conditions, making it feel even colder. In the ski country of northern New York and New England, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be a brutal 20 degrees Fahrenheit below zero throughout the day on Saturday.

It will be important for anyone venturing outside to cover every inch of skin, utilizing hats, mittens, scarves and balaclavas or face masks.

“If not adequately dressed in such conditions, the risk of frostbite is high, even if you spend less than 15 minutes outdoors,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff warned.

At least 17 deaths have been linked to the brutally cold weather which has gripped the nation, the Associated Press reported.

Pets and other animals should not be left without proper shelter from the cold and wind in these conditions.

Anyone who lost power due to the recent Atlantic coast storm should make every effort to stay in a warm location until power is restored.

“For those who find the brutal cold unbearable and downright miserable, there is some hope on the horizon,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott.

Early next week, an approaching storm with snow, ice and rain will cause the bitter cold to retreat toward Canada, allowing temperatures to return to near-normal levels for a brief time, according to Elliott.

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