Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – A deepening cold spell continues across the Delaware Valley as dangerously low wind chills are expected to persist through the end of the week.
According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, overnight wind chills will continue to drop progressively colder over the next several nights, with the coldest conditions expected toward the end of the week. Forecast wind chills show values falling well below zero, including readings near -13 degrees in parts of eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey.
Communities across Philadelphia, Trenton, Allentown, Reading, Wilmington, Atlantic City, and surrounding areas are affected. Wind chill forecasts indicate single-digit and subzero values during nighttime and early morning hours, even where actual air temperatures remain in the teens.
Major travel corridors including Interstate 95, Interstate 76, Interstate 295, Route 22, the Garden State Parkway, and the New Jersey Turnpike may experience the harshest exposure conditions, particularly on bridges, overpasses, and open stretches where winds remain elevated. While widespread snow is not expected, the extreme cold can still pose hazards for stranded motorists and outdoor workers.
The National Weather Service warns that frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, especially during overnight hours. Prolonged exposure may also increase the risk of hypothermia.
Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, dress in multiple warm layers, cover exposed skin, and bring pets indoors overnight. Officials also recommend checking on elderly neighbors and ensuring adequate heating, particularly during the coldest nights.
Students, early-shift workers, and commuters traveling before sunrise may face the most severe conditions, especially later this week as wind chills bottom out.
Forecasters note that while temperatures may eventually moderate, the cold pattern will remain entrenched through the end of the week, and residents should continue monitoring official forecasts and wind chill advisories as conditions evolve.
