By: Richard L. Smith
Residents across Newark and the North Jersey region woke up to some of the coldest air of the season, making winter weather gear an absolute must this morning.
Anyone stepping outside around 4:30 a.m. was met with freezing temperatures and biting wind chills. 
On South Orange Avenue and Ashland Street, the thermometer read 22 degrees, but the wind made it feel closer to 16. The cold snap will hold steady through the day.
It is officially a “Frigid Friday” around the state.
Morristown checked in at 19 degrees, Sussex County dipped to 12, Haledon reported 16, and Edison registered 19 as the region endured widespread freezing conditions.
Forecasters say winds will be much lighter this afternoon compared to Thursday, but the reduced gusts won’t bring much relief.
Temperatures will struggle to climb out of the 20s, and residents should plan to keep their winter layers on all day, according to the National Weather Service.
Today’s forecast calls for increasing clouds with a high near 32 degrees.
Wind chill values will range between 10 and 20, with a north wind around 5 to 7 mph before becoming light and variable later in the day.
Tonight, forecasters expect a chance of rain and snow before 2 a.m., followed by a slight chance of snow between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a mix of rain and snow closer to dawn. Temperatures will hold steady around 32 degrees.
Stay warm, Jersey, and make it a great day.