The forecast remains on track for very cold conditions Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Essentially looking at the following:
Tuesday Night: Lows 20 to 30 below in the mountains, 5 to 15 below elsewhere
Wednesday: Highs zero to 5 below in the mountains, single digits above zero elsewhere
Wednesday Night: Lows similar to Tuesday night
Some wind is also expected so there will likely be times when the wind chill reaches the 20 to 40 below range.
Any substantial wind (>8 mph)... will create Apparent Temperatures (Wind Chill or "Feels like") some 10 to 15 degrees COLDER than the observed.
- Tuesday Highs: + 5 to +15°
- Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning Lows: -20° to Zero
- Wednesday Highs: -5° to +10°: Wednesday Night/Thursday Morning Lows: -25° to -5
- Thursday Highs: Zero to +10°
- Thursday Night/Friday Morning Lows: -15° to Zero
- Friday Highs: Teens
The National Weather Service calculates wind speed at an average height of five feet, typical height of an adult human face, based on readings from the national standard height of 33 feet, typical height of an anemometer is based on a human face model.
This model incorporates heat transfer theory, heat loss from the body to its surroundings, during cold and breezy/windy days. The model lowers the calm wind threshold to 3 mph and uses a consistent standard for skin tissue resistance. It also assumes no impact from the sun (i.e., clear night sky).
Using the National Weather Service's model's calculations, the potential wind chill this week, means at -25 degrees, with a 10 mph wind, the wind chill is a bone chilling -47 degrees farenheit.
At those extremely cold temperatures, frostbite and hypothermia are real dangers, especially for young children and the elderly.
Potential Impacts:
- Human and Animal Concerns with Hypothermia and Frost Bite...Rogue Skiers that require rescue.
- Potential Frozen/Burst Water Pipes and Water Mains given lack of snow cover for insulation.
- Disabled Vehicles due to Batteries or Frozen Fuel lines
- Carbon monoxide poisoning due to insufficient ventilation of alternate heat sources
- Potential chimney/house fires for those that use as an extra source and may not have cleaned chimney.
Take appropriate cautions and rest frequently someplace warm if you have to work outside. See attached video for other cold weather survival tips.
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