A frigid swirling system known as a polar vortex, which usually stays near the North Pole and Canada, has slid south and is pushing temperatures in the tri-state toward bone-chilling record lows.

The system will keep temperatures from advancing beyond the low teens Tuesday and will bring howling winds that could make it feel as frigid as 15 degrees below zero in New York City. Authorities are urging people to dress in layers and spend as little time outside as possible.

Temperatures in Central Park dove to 6 degrees Tuesday morning, tying a 118-year record set in 1896. Record lows were also observed at LaGuardia, Newark and John F. Kennedy airports, and on Long Island, where it was 9 degrees in Islip, four below the record of 13 degrees set in 1988.

(AP)