The coldest air in about 2 years is freezing the city Thursday.

The last time New York City saw high temperatures below 20 degrees was on Valentine’s Day 2016. High temperatures then were only 15 degrees, and that tundra-like chill will be reintroduced for today as highs are only expected to reach 19 degrees.

December 28th’s normal temperature is 40 degrees, but we are trending nearly twenty-one degrees below that normal. A robust area of high pressure has arctic features is to blame for this weather pattern. Although “high pressure” is colloquial with “fair weather”, one cannot simply enjoy the outdoors in this cold.

Feel like temperatures this morning are expected to be between -5 and 5 degrees. Wind will be from the northwest at about 10-25 mph.

The National Weather Service has not issued official warnings for this cold weather, but it is advisable to dress according to the weather conditions to prevent any cold weather related illness such as frostbite or hypothermia. An official warning would be issued if wind chills/feel like temperatures were as low as -10 degrees.

High temperatures for the next week or two won’t change much as this persistent cold weather pattern seems to linger into the new year. In addition, an Alberta Clipper is expected to swipe through the city on Saturday providing some light snowfall accumulations. An early indication suggests a coating to 2 inches of very powdery snow is likely.

An early look at the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square suggests that temperatures will be close to 15 degrees when the ball drops.