After days of punishing cold across New York, forecasters say temperatures are expected to slowly climb as the new week gets underway, offering relief following one of the harshest cold spells of the winter.

The recent freeze brought conditions described as “colder than parts of Antarctica,” with thermometers plunging to just three degrees on Sunday. Wind chills made it feel even more severe, dropping perceived temperatures to 14 degrees below zero, according to a report by the New York Post.

The Weather Channel warned that the Northeast was in the grip of an intense cold wave, stating:
“Bitterly cold temperatures are here for the Northeast, including New York City and Boston. Cold alerts blanket most of the region…where wind chills up to 15 degrees below zero are possible for millions. Single-digit high temperatures are possible for interior portions of the Northeast, and frostbite is a major concern. These temperatures are expected to be the coldest this winter season for the region.”

Despite the brutal conditions, meteorologists say a gradual shift is expected, with milder air moving into the New York City area as the week progresses.

City officials, meanwhile, are grappling with the human toll of the cold. Zohran Mamdani said Monday that 16 people were found dead outdoors during the extreme weather, according to Breitbart News. He reiterated that a “Code Blue” had been declared on January 19, urging residents to seek shelter indoors.

Addressing the deaths, Mamdani said, “Each of these lives lost is a tragedy. My heart was with the families of those mourning their loved ones,” and added that city agencies were continuing efforts to bring vulnerable individuals into warming centers.

Throughout January, tens of thousands of residents reported being without heat or hot water, with many placing responsibility on the mayor, Breitbart News reported.

Mamdani has also reportedly been summoned to appear before the City Council to answer questions about how the city handled the emergency. The outlet noted that “lawmakers are asking if the socialist mayor has done enough to protect tenants as heat complaints reach record highs.”

As the cold lingered, video footage captured frozen waterways in parts of the city, underscoring the severity of the conditions.

The New York Post cited a National Weather Service warning that read: “Rare Extreme Cold Warnings have been issued for more than 43 million people, including major metro areas such as New York and Philadelphia, through Sunday evening by the National Weather Service.”

{Matzav.com}