NYC Weather: Polar Vortex Returns To Bring Big Freeze

NEW YORK CITY — Swap out the spring windbreaker for a winter coat — New York City is about to get extra chilly.

The polar vortex will dip down over Canada this weekend and send a blanket of cold air over the city, AccuWeather meteorologists predict.

"A direct discharge of Arctic air will sweep into the northeastern quarter of the nation starting this weekend," said Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist for AccuWeather.

Temperatures in New York City will start to plunge Sunday, with lows dropping to 28 degrees, according to the National Weather Service's forecast.

A chance of flurries will greet New Yorkers as they bed down during a blustery Sunday night, the forecast states.

Monday's high will only reach 34 degrees, with a low of 27 degrees, according to the forecast.

And it's not the only precipitation likely this weekend.

Saturday carries a 50 percent chance of precipitation in the form of scattered showers and thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.

"Some of the storms could produce small hail," the forecast states.

AccuWeather meteorologists predict the cold blast won't last beyond midweek, when the jet stream pivots northeast and potentially allows temperatures to reach above average.

But the warmup could be short. "Abnormally cold air" could return in early April, according to AccuWeather.

Here's the complete National Weather Service forecast:

Friday
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 59. West wind 8 to 14 mph.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. West wind 10 to 14 mph.

Saturday
Scattered showers between 9am and 3pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Partly sunny, with a steady temperature around 48. Southwest wind 9 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night
Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then isolated showers between 9pm and 3am. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday
A chance of sprinkles after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Sunday Night
A chance of sprinkles and flurries before 9pm, then a chance of flurries between 9pm and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Blustery.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy.

Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Blustery.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 44.

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Wednesday
A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Thursday
A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.

Read the AccuWeather report here.