NEW YORK — A blast of Arctic air will bring subzero wind chills to New York City this week on the heels of a wintry mix, forecasters say. The Arctic front will roll into the area Wednesday afternoon, pushing temperatures into the single digits by early Thursday morning, the National Weather Service says.

Wind chill values will plummet to 11 degrees below zero amid bitterly cold breezes of around 14 MPH, the weather service's forecast shows. Those potentially dangerous temperatures will stick around throughout the day Thursday, city officials say. "Freezing cold temperatures and winter weather are no joke," Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the city health commissioner, said in a statement. "Extreme cold poses danger for all New Yorkers, but especially those at risk for hypothermia, like those who are homeless, those without heat at home, and those who drink heavily or use drugs and become incapacitated outdoors."

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The brutal cold will follow messy commutes Tuesday and Wednesday with rain and snow expected to hit the city, according to the city's Office of Emergency Management.

Rainfall is expected to start Tuesday afternoon and snow could follow early Wednesday morning as temperatures drop, the weather service's forecast shows. The NWS says little to no snow accumulation is expected. Another chance of snow will loom Wednesday afternoon as the more frigid temperatures start to set in, according to the weather service.

Here's a closer look at the forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service.

Tuesday

Rain, mainly after 4pm. High near 40. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. East wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Rain and snow before 1am, then a slight chance of snow between 1am and 4am. Low around 22. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. South wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Wednesday

Scattered snow showers after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 30. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. West wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.