(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
With temperatures well below freezing, the city’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is warning New Yorkers about the dangers of prolonged exposure to extreme cold weather.
Everyone is urged to stay indoors to avoid the risk of hypothermia, frostbite and other serious health problems.
Cold air mixed with strong winds will make it feel anywhere from 15 to 25 degrees below zero, according to the National Weather Service. A wind chill advisory remains in effect for the city and most of the tri-state area until 6 p.m. tonight.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday that city agencies have taken a number of steps to prepare for the cold weather and that outreach efforts to the city’s homeless population have been doubled.
He also urged New Yorkers to practice safety when warming their homes.
“Never use gas stoves or portable gas heaters indoors to heat your home, as those can lead to fire or dangerous levels of carbon monoxide,” he said.
Anyone who needs to go outside should take appropriate precautions, officials said.
All senior centers will only be open for lunch today beginning at 11 a.m. They will close after lunch.
Alternate side parking is suspended today.
Temperatures are expected to rise into the mid-20s on Wednesday, into the mid-30s on Thursday and into the mid-40s on Friday.
