Weekly Weather Event -Week of Feb. 10
February 14, 2020In a break from an unusually warm winter, much of the Northern Plains, parts of the Great Lakes region, and Northern New England are experiencing some of the coldest weather this season. Wind Chill Advisories were in effect Thursday night into Friday morning for most of these regions, with air temperatures dropping to as low as –20 F in parts of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin and wind chill of –40 F in certain regions. Further south, Chicago experienced its first below zero temperatures of the season, and Buffalo, New York dropped into the teens.
The cold air will not be persisting for long, however. Warmer air from the south will return temperatures to slightly above average this weekend, and some portions of the Midwest could see a 30 degree temperature difference from Thursday’s low temperatures.
Though the worst of the cold weather has passed by the time of this writing, the National Weather Service recommends limiting time outside during periods of extreme cold. Frostbite can happen in minutes when the air temperature is cold enough, and exposed skin on the face, nose, ears, hands, and feet is the most at risk. If you must venture outside, dress in layers and keep skin exposure to a minimum.