NEW YORK — A powerful blast of Arctic air tied to the polar vortex is expected to bring the coldest temperatures of the winter to the Northeast this weekend, with dangerous wind chills that could become life-threatening, forecasters said.

Strong northwest winds will usher frigid air into major metropolitan areas including Boston, New York and Philadelphia, with wind chill temperatures forecast to plunge well below zero. In some locations, wind chills could approach minus 25 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Weather officials said frostbite on exposed skin could occur within minutes, and prolonged exposure to the cold could pose serious health risks. National Weather Service offices across the region are monitoring conditions and said extreme cold warnings — rarely issued in the Northeast — may be needed.

A cold front is expected to move across New England and the Interstate 95 corridor by Saturday morning, accompanied by wind gusts of up to 30 mph. The front will follow a fast-moving clipper system that could bring light snow and brief periods of reduced visibility on Friday.

The cold is expected to intensify into Sunday morning, when wind chills in Philadelphia, New York City and Boston could fall into the negative teens. Conditions will be even harsher in interior areas, including New York’s Capital Region, where Albany could see wind chills colder than minus 20 degrees.

Temperatures are expected to remain bitter through Monday, with little daytime warming, before gradually moderating by the middle of next week, forecasters said.

The extended stretch of Arctic air this winter has kept many residents indoors and left large snow accumulations in place across parts of the region following January’s severe winter storms.

Meteorologists said some relief is expected later this month as a shift in the jet stream allows the polar vortex to retreat northward, reducing the intensity of cold air outbreaks in the East.