Freeze warning possible in parts of the Tri-State – NBC New York

The autumn cold isn't going away any time soon.

If you weren't prepared, Tuesday morning's cold weather gave the system a real shock. Most of us had morning temperatures in the 30s and 40s.

New York City recorded its coldest morning since late April, while parts of Dutchess and Ulster County managed to dip below freezing – some even reaching temperatures above 20°C. And this won't be our only cold morning this week. In fact, Wednesday morning will likely be the coolest time of the week.

Low temperatures Tuesday morning will be slightly cooler, with the low in Central Park expected to be 42 degrees – not record-breaking, but still cool for this time of year.

The stormy northwest wind has further exacerbated the cool temperatures. Wind gusts exceeded 50 miles per hour on Monday. Winds will continue throughout the week, but gusts will be more in the 20 to 25 mph range. Still, that will be enough to give us a decent wind chill, which you will definitely feel at the start of the night.

Winds won't be quite as strong heading into Wednesday, but gusts over 20 mph are still expected, making it feel significantly cooler outside.

In mid-October, the average overnight low temperature in Central Park is in the low 50s. By Thursday we will be about 10 degrees colder on average, which is closer to what we would expect in mid-November. That means, if you haven't already, it's time to break out the heavier jacket.

These cool temperatures will be short-lived, but while they last, Freeze Warnings and Frost Warnings are in effect for the next two mornings. If plants are still growing outside, keep an eye on the delicate “tender” vegetation and be prepared to cover them or bring them indoors if you want to extend the growing season a bit.

When it comes to the average first frost, we expect temperatures to drop below freezing in parts of the northern and western Hudson Valley in early to mid-October, and that's exactly what we saw Tuesday morning.

Most of New Jersey will remain above freezing through the end of October. As one approaches the New York metropolitan area and crosses Long Island, the first frost typically lasts until November. In Central Park, the climatological average is November 13th.