By: Richard L. Smith
It is a frigid start to the midweek across New Jersey, and if you’re heading out this morning, you will definitely need all of the winter weather gear.
Good morning, New Jersey, and happy Wednesday. It is currently 20 degrees in Newark, but with the wind chill, it feels closer to 9 degrees. 
If you’re stepping outside, bundle up and stay bundled through the day because it really won’t feel much better at all.
As we look ahead to a potentially nasty storm this weekend, we still have to get through today and the rest of the week, and temperatures remain brutal across the region. Cold air is firmly in place.
Elsewhere this morning, Sparta is coming in at minus 2 degrees, New York City is at 12, and Trenton is sitting at 4 degrees. Winds around 7 miles per hour are making it feel even colder.
Conditions are clear and dry right now, but black ice remains a concern, especially on untreated roads, sidewalks, and bridges.
We are heading in the right direction later today, but temperatures will remain below freezing.
Tomorrow and Friday bring slight improvement, with highs edging closer to the upper 30s and near 40 degrees. That may help melt some ice, but not all of it, so caution is still advised.
According to the National Weather Service, today will feature increasing clouds with a high near 31 degrees.
Wind chill values will range between 10 and 20 degrees, with calm winds becoming southerly at 5 to 8 miles per hour by late morning.
Tonight, there is a 20 percent chance of snow before 1 a.m. Skies will be cloudy early, then gradually clear, with temperatures holding steady around 32 degrees.
Wind chill values will be between 25 and 30 degrees, with southwest winds around 8 miles per hour.
Have a great day, New Jersey, and stay warm out there.