A bone-chilling weekend is in store for the Northern Plains, with forecasters from the National Weather Service predicting temperatures to plummet to between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit as a cold Arctic air mass descends on the region. Furthermore, the frigid weather is projected to sweep southward to the Gulf Coast by Monday and Tuesday. This blast of freezing cold air, compounded by blustery winds, poses significant danger as wind can rapidly remove heat from the body, leading to conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite. The National Weather Service utilizes a wind chill temperature, which takes into account the combination of wind speed and temperature, to gauge how cold it feels outside and determine the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.
Given the severity of the cold snap, people are advised to be cautious and vigilant in safeguarding themselves against the dangers posed by the extreme drop in temperatures. With hypothermia setting in if body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit and frostbite presenting a real danger due to the body’s defense mechanism against extreme cold, it becomes crucial to accurately gauge the risk before venturing into the cold outdoors. This requires careful consideration of variables such as wind speed and temperature to determine the likelihood of frostbite and the estimated time it would take for exposed skin to freeze, thus highlighting the importance of staying informed about whether a location will be below freezing and the potential to feel even colder.
