Wind chill advisory issued for Wednesday, Thursday
EMO gives advice for fighting the bitter cold
Photo by Bruce Landis – Bruce Landis took this picture last night of the full moon. He said it was only visible through the clouds for a short while.
A wind chill advisory has been issued for 10 a.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Thursday for Orleans and other Western New York counties.
On Wednesday the temperature could fall to 3 degrees with a high of 11. But northwest winds, at 15 to 25 miles per hour, could make it feel like 15 degrees below zero.
“Bitterly cold wind chills will result in dangerous conditions for exposed skin,” the National Weather Service advised.
It’s going to be a cold next few days. Today is forecast for a high of 20, followed by a high of 11 on Wednesday and 18 on Thursday. On Friday, it should reach 19 degrees.
The Orleans County Emergency Management Office has issued some cold weather safety tips.
Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and exhaustion. Get medical attention immediately.
The EMO advises the following:
• Dress appropriately for the weather by wearing several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Trapped air between the layers will insulate you. Remove layers to avoid sweating and subsequent chill.
• Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded.
• Wear a hat because much of your body heat can be lost from your head.
• Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
• Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
• Avoid overexertion. Your heart is already working overtime in cold weather. The strain from the cold and the hard labor of shoveling heavy snow, walking through drifts or pushing a car may cause a heart attack. Sweating from overexertion could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
For more information about cold weather and winter safety, click here.
File photo by Tom Rivers – A man walks along East Bank Street in downtown Albion last March 12 when a blizzard hit the county. The downtown was largely deserted due the nasty winter storm.
