Photo: AFP
Arctic air has arrived in the New York City area and the city's first blizzard in years is expected to begin in just under 24 hours.
A Cold Weather Advisory was in effect Saturday, with a State of Emergency set to take effect at 5 p.m. A Winter Storm Warning starts at 3 a.m. Sunday for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Saturday's daytime high is 20 degrees, but wind gusts of up to 25 mph will make it feel as cold as 0 at times.
Snow will begin to fall after 7 a.m. Sunday, with 7 - 11 inches possible during the daytime. Another 1 to 3 inches could fall Sunday night, and an additional half inch could come Monday morning.
Sunday will be frigid with a high near 27 and windy with gusts up to 33 mph. Wind chill values could be as low as 5 degrees.
The storm is expected to bring major travel disruptions to the area, with flights grounded and traffic slow. City officials say the subways will continue operating all weekend.
Temperatures aren't expected to climb much higher than 20 all week, so the slow accumulation will stick and untreated surfaces will remain slick and icy.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 23
New York City is bracing for a major winter storm this weekend that could bring up to a foot of snow to the area by Sunday.
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the Tri-State area from early Sunday through Monday evening. A Cold Weather Advisory goes into effect Friday night, as Saturday will bring dangerously cold air to the region.
Sunday will bring a snowstorm the likes of which the Big Apple hasn't seen in at least five years. Forecasters say there is a 100 percent chance of snow in the five boroughs, with accumulation landing between 8 - 12 inches.
Some surrounding NYC suburbs could get up to 16 inches.
By Sunday night, there will be a mixture of snow and ice that will make the Monday morning commute especially hazardous.
In news briefings Friday, officials detailed state and local response plans for the storm, which is expected to be the city's most significant snowfall in years.
Friday's high of 37 degrees was expected to plummet to 18 degrees by Saturday, with snow beginning to fall early Sunday.
Light snow on Monday should clear by the afternoon, but temperatures will remain cold with a nighttime low around 12.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to 710 WOR AM for updates as the storm arrives in New York.
Photo: Getty Images