The coldest air in 23 years has arrived, and today promises to be the coldest day of this 3-day cold wave. By any measure temperatures and wind chills will be in the extreme danger zone, especially Wednesday morning, with air temperatures as cold as -28F in the MSP metro and a wind chill of -50 to -60F. That's the new (warmer) wind chill formula which was launched in November of 2001. Under the older wind chill formula we'd be looking at a chill factor closer to -70F or -75F. Amazing.
1). Today is peak risk for frostbite and hypothermia. Check in on friends and neighbors to make sure their homes or apartments are staying warm enough. Assume nothing. Newborns and the elderly are most susceptible to hypothermia, a gradual drop in body temperature that can prove fatal if not caught in time. Symptoms, according to The Mayo Clinic, include:
Shivering.
Slurred speech or mumbling.
Slow, shallow breathing.
Weak pulse.
Clumsiness or lack of coordination.
Drowsiness or very low energy.
Confusion or memory loss.
Loss of consciousness.
2). Bring your pets inside, if possible. They feel the wind chill every bit as much as we do.
3). The air will be so cold that the National Weather Service in Des Moines, Iowa, has warned that, if people go outside, they should “avoid taking deep breaths, and minimize talking.”
I mentioned this on the air - as dangerous as this airmass is, from a meteorological perspective I'm curious what this is going to feel like, and on some (sad) level glad I'm in town to experience the coldest invasion since the mid-90s. Exhibit A that Minnesotans are a race of weather-warriors. Summer will taste extra-sweet this year.
And if you don't like it - this too shall pass. By Friday we will all be breathing a lot easier.
Hang in there, think warm thoughts. Let's keep a watchful eye on each other...
- Paul Douglas
