Brutal Arctic Cold and Dangerous Winds Expected Across the Region This Weekend

A surge of Arctic air will bring some of the coldest and windiest conditions of the winter so far to the region this weekend, creating dangerous wind chills and potentially hazardous travel and outdoor conditions. An Arctic front is set to move through late Friday into Saturday, followed by strong high pressure building east across […]

A surge of Arctic air will bring some of the coldest and windiest conditions of the winter so far to the region this weekend, creating dangerous wind chills and potentially hazardous travel and outdoor conditions.

An Arctic front is set to move through late Friday into Saturday, followed by strong high pressure building east across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. As this high pressure system strengthens, it will clash with low pressure offshore, tightening the pressure gradient and driving strong northwest winds across the area.

Saturday will begin with temperatures near their daily highs early in the morning, but conditions will deteriorate quickly. By late morning, temperatures are expected to plunge into the teens as cold air rapidly pours in behind the front. Northwest winds will increase to 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph. Wind Advisories are likely as these gusts could cause isolated power issues and make travel difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

Wind chills on Saturday will be especially dangerous. Much of the region will experience wind chills in the single digits, with values dropping as low as 10 below zero north and west of the Fall Line. The southern Poconos could see wind chills near 20 below zero during the day.

Conditions will remain harsh Saturday night as temperatures fall into the single digits, with some locations dropping below zero. Lows could reach around 5 below zero in the southern Poconos and far northwest New Jersey. While winds will decrease slightly overnight, sustained speeds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph will continue to drive dangerously low wind chills. By early Sunday morning, wind chills of 10 to 20 below zero are expected across much of southern New Jersey, the Delaware Valley, and Delmarva. Farther north, wind chills may fall to 20 to 25 below zero in the Lehigh Valley and northern New Jersey, with values approaching 30 below zero in the southern Poconos.

Arctic air will remain locked in place on Sunday, with daytime highs only reaching the teens to lower 20s. Winds will gradually ease through the day, but wind chills will still hover in the single digits, keeping conditions bitterly cold.

Temperatures are expected to slowly moderate as the new work week begins, but residents are urged to prepare now for the weekend cold. Limiting time outdoors, dressing in layers, protecting pets, and checking on vulnerable individuals will be critical as the region faces this prolonged blast of Arctic air.