Weather in the area has been harsh the past couple of days, and not looking to improve much tomorrow. Â Winds are expected to increase which will drive wind chills in to the -15 to -25 degree range. Â That coupled with the ice that is still coating the area and trees could make for an interesting day tomorrow. Â
Wind Chill Advisory From the National Weather Service:
Effective: 20:47 CDT on 12-20-2008
Expires: 18:00 CDT on 12-22-2008…BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS AND LAKE EFFECT SNOW TO ARRIVE SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT…
…A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BLAST INTO THE REGION TONIGHT AND SUNDAY BRINGING A SHOT OF BITTERLY COLD ARCTIC AIR. BY LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE ZERO IN MANY LOCATIONS WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS SUNDAY NIGHT AWAY FROM LAKE MICHIGAN RANGING FROM ZERO TO POSSIBLY AS COLD AS 5 BELOW ZERO. THIS COMBINED WITH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL ALLOW FOR WIND CHILLS OF 15 TO 25 BELOW ZERO. IN ADDITION TO THE COLD AIR AND WIND CHILLS…LAKE EFFECT SNOW IS EXPECTED SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT AND COULD BE LOCALLY HEAVY AT TIMES SUNDAY NIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…COLD WIND CHILLS AND SNOW WILL CREATE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.
…WIND CHILL ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EST SUNDAY TO 1 PM EST MONDAY…
THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EST SUNDAY TO 1 PM EST MONDAY.
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BLAST INTO THE REGION OVERNIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY MORNING…BRINGING A SHOT OF BITTERLY COLD ARCTIC AIR. BY MID MORNING ON SUNDAY…TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE ZERO AND WIND CHILLS WILL BE DROPPING TO BETWEEN 10 BELOW ZERO AND 15 BELOW ZERO. OVERNIGHT LOWS SUNDAY NIGHT AWAY FROM LAKE MICHIGAN WILL RANGE FROM ZERO TO POSSIBLY AS COLD AS 5 BELOW ZERO. THIS COMBINED WITH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL ALLOW FOR WIND CHILLS OF 15 BELOW ZERO TO NEAR 25 BELOW ZERO. THE STRONG WINDS ON SUNDAY WILL ALSO CREATE HAVOC WITH TREES AND POWER LINES ALREADY COVERED WITH ICE OR WEAKENED BY THE RECENT ICE STORM. WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH WILL LIKELY BRING DOWN ADDITIONAL TREE LIMBS AND COULD CAUSE SOME TREES AND POWER LINESÂ TO FAIL AS WELL. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE WIND CHILLS IN THE 15 TO 25 BELOW ZERO RANGE. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.
I will also warn those of you who work downtown to use caution when navigating the sidewalks Monday. Â Hopefully, things will be worked on before then, but sidewalks that were plowed Friday afternoon are nothing but sheets of ice. Â If you’re one of those without power, I hope you stay safe and warm the next few days.