Arctic-like temperatures have caused several big cities on the Eats Coast to quite literally freeze over this holiday season. With no end in sight to the cold weather before the few hours left in 2017 tick away, some have scrambled to reschedule New Year's Eve parties, especially those which are outdoor celebrations in places like New York, Boston and even up in Toronto, Canada. One notable exception will be the world-famous countdown in Times Square, which will be going ahead as normal despite the frigid conditions.
According to NBC affiliate KARE11, the man in charge of the festivities that culminate in the ball drop is unconcerned about the sudden turn that the weather has taken. “Hundreds of thousands have withstood very cold weather over the years for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we expect this year to be no different,” said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance which puts on the event.
The temperature, with windchill taken into consideration, could bottom out at 0 degrees Fahrenheit when the clock strikes midnight later on tonight, which will tie the second-coldest conditions on record for the Times Square celebrations. The coldest? 1 degree without windchill, which happened back in 1917. The good news is that additional New York Fire Department personnel will be on hand at the big event to administer medical care should it be need. Weather experts will also be closely monitoring the weather conditions as the evening unfolds.
Would you be one of the people standing out in Times Square in weather this cold? Let us know in the comments.