The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for our area:
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
916 PM EST THU JAN 2 2014…HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW EXPECTED IN FAR NORTHWEST INDIANA AND SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN TONIGHT. DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING….
A BAND OF HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT NORTHWEST INDIANA AND SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN THIS EVENING BEFORE WEAKENING LATER TONIGHT. SNOWFALL RATES AROUND 2 INCHES PER HOUR WITHIN THIS SNOW BAND WILL BE POSSIBLE…MAKING TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES POSSIBLE AT TIMES. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE WEST AND NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF LA PORTE COUNTY WHILE 2 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION ARE EXPECTED ACROSS FAR SOUTHWEST BERRIEN COUNTY.
IN ADDITION…WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP TO AROUND 15 BELOW FROM LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST INDIANA….SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN…AND NORTHWEST OHIO.
…WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EST FRIDAY…
HAZARDOUS WEATHER…
* TIMING…WIND CHILLS TO 15 BELOW ZERO LATE THIS EVENING INTO FRIDAY MORNING.
IMPACTS…
* PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE VERY COLD CONDITIONS MAY LEAD TO FROSTBITE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. 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.