With sub-zero wind chills, N.J. feels like an ice box. The frigid air will likely stay around into the first week of January, and light snow is possible this weekend.
So, just how cold did it get in New Jersey as the deep freeze firmed up its grip Thursday morning?
Climate stations in eight counties in northern and central parts of the state reported temperature readings in the single digits -- not factoring in the wind chill.
And nearly two dozen climate stations had brutal sub-zero wind chills, including High Point in Sussex County, which reported a wind-chill reading of 14 degrees below zero.
As of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, air temperatures remained in the teens across most of New Jersey, and wind-chill readings were slightly below zero in a few spots, including Morristown, Sussex Airport and Teterboro Airport, according to climate data from the National Weather Service.
The air temperature in Caldwell and Somerville was in the mid-teens at 11 a.m., but a steady breeze made it feel as cold as zero.
That's the type of day it's been in the Garden State, as a large mass of frigid Arctic air from Canada remains in place, pushing daily temperatures 10 to 20 degrees lower than normall for this time of year. In fact, this cold spell could continue into much of next week -- which would be a rare stretch of consecutive days with below-freezing temperatures in late December and early January.
The longest streak of days below 32 degrees at Newark Liberty International Airport -- the main climate station in northern New Jersey -- is 16 days, from Jan. 19 through Feb. 3 in 1961, the National Weather Service said.
The current streak began on Tuesday, so it's only been three days with high temperatures stuck below 32 degrees. However, this cold snap is expected to continue through next Wednesday and could extend as far as Friday, Jan. 5, according to forecasters from AccuWeather.
Too cold for polar plunge
The frigid forecast has already led to the cancellation of at least one Polar Bear Plunge in New Jersey. Officials in Ventnor in South Jersey say the event's organizers recently contacted them with concerns about the safety of those who would be jumping into the Atlantic Ocean.
They noted the forecast calls for a high of about 20 degrees on Monday while the ocean temperature is expected to be in the mid-40s.
City officials agreed the event should be postponed, telling the Associated Press they would rather "err on the side of safety." It's not clear if the annual fundraising event will be rescheduled.
Not a huge storm Saturday, but a coating to an inch of snow could cause some slippery travel, especially since road surfaces will be so cold. I'll have details on Eyewitness News at 4, 5, and 6. See you then! #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/NDsBU3a8jX
-- Jeff Smith (@JeffSmithABC7) December 28, 2017
Some snow possible
With cold air locked in, any storm systems that head this way are likely to bring snow instead of rain. Forecasters say a small clipper system could drop an inch or two of snow over the Garden State early Saturday, but no major storms are expected during the next several days.
Saturday's storm system -- which involves a small disturbance that could provide energy to a weak low-pressure system over the Great Lakes -- could bring a light dusting of snow to New York City and 1 to 3 inches of snow to Long Island, N.Y., and eastern sections of Connecticut, the National Weather Service said.
Forecasters are watching the potential development of a weak coastal storm system late Saturday afternoon, which could bring additional snow to Long Island and eastern Connecticut. As of now, that storm is not expected to impact New Jersey.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.