Frostbite in minutes? It's a real risk from polar vortex wind chill.
- - Frostbite in minutes? It's a real risk from polar vortex wind chill.
Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY February 8, 2026 at 4:09 AM
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NEW YORK − Dangerous, freezing wind chills are expected over the weekend in the Northeast — so extreme that frostbite could occur within minutes for people outdoors in some locations.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for frigid wind chills as low as 30 degrees below zero in parts of New England and the interior Northeast. Wind chill is how cold people feel while outside, and it’s based on rate of heat loss from exposed skin by cold temperatures and wind combining, according to the weather service. In other words, wind makes it feel colder than it really is.
Forecasters have tied the dangerous cold to changes in the polar vortex. Daytime temperatures are expected to stay in the single digits. On top of that, strong winds are expected across the area, though the Mid-Atlantic and parts of Appalachia could reach up to 60 mph.
snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Jose Castillo of Tarrytown, NY. walks through snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/zEqKXlazgHRyLzmvtBWw8A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Nzc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a414fe16ae3605c40624356ef1672ff3 class=caas-img data-headline="See fun faces of people making the best of winter weather" data-caption="
Jose Castillo of Tarrytown, NY. walks through snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
">Jose Castillo of Tarrytown, NY. walks through snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
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1 / 15See fun faces of people making the best of winter weather
Jose Castillo of Tarrytown, NY. walks through snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
The weather service has warned these conditions are ripe for life-threatening hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin in less than an hour (and in just a matter of minutes in some areas with the coldest wind chills).
To prepare, people have to bundle up and cover exposed skin if they have to go outside. Dressing in layers helps to better retain heat. People should also wear a hat, face mask and gloves.
Hypothermia, frostbite from extreme cold
Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature, caused when a person is exposed to extremely low temperatures for long periods of time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said human bodies begin to lose heat faster than it’s produced when exposed to cold temperatures. Over time, people will use up stored energy, causing lower body temperatures.
When body temperature gets too low, it affects the brain, so people can’t move or think well. It's especially dangerous because people might not know they’re experiencing hypothermia and can’t react to do something about it.
Learn more: 5 things to know about frostbite and how to prevent it
Frostbite often occurs first on extremities, like your fingers, toes and ears, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It causes pain, numbness, swelling, blisters and skin discoloration.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long does frostbite take? Polar vortex cold ups wind chill risk.
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