By: Richard L. Smith
Residents in Newark and across North Jersey are waking up to a cold and blustery start to the workweek, as strong winds and frigid temperatures continue to grip the region on Presidents Day.
As of this morning, temperatures in Newark sit at 34 degrees but feel closer to 21 degrees due to the biting wind chill.
Other parts of North Jersey are even colder, with Sparta at 28 degrees feeling like 19, Morristown at 31, Edison at 33, and Paterson at freezing at 32 degrees.
The gusty winds from Sunday night remain in full force, with some areas experiencing wind speeds of up to 50 mph.
While conditions will gradually improve, the strong gusts will persist through the afternoon, making for a chilly and blustery holiday.
According to the National Weather Service, today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 34 degrees. Wind chill values will make it feel between 15 and 20 degrees, with west winds at 20 to 24 mph and gusts as high as 48 mph.
By tonight, temperatures will plummet to around 17 degrees, with wind chill values dropping to between 5 and 15 degrees.
Skies will remain mostly clear, but the bitter cold will linger into the early morning hours.
With saturated ground from recent rain and snow, residents should remain cautious of falling trees and branches as the wind continues to whip through the region.
