'Life-Threatening' Wind Chills and Extreme Cold Forecast for Connecticut

By BRIAN MCCREADY (Patch Staff)

The National Weather Service is using the words “dangerously cold” and “life-threatening” wind chill factors, along with frostbite and hypothermia in its updated forecast for Connecticut this weekend.

A “Wind Chill Watch” is in effect from Saturday evening through Sunday morning for southern Connecticut, which includes all of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties.

The same “Wind Chill Watch” is in effect for Tolland and Hartford counties, but runs from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.

For southern Connecticut, the National Weather Service says, to expect “extreme cold,” with windchill factors as low as 25 to 30 below zero, which could reach “life-threatening levels.” The coldest windchills will be late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

“Wind chill values potentially reaching dangerous levels,” the weather service states, while cautioning that frozen pipes, frostbite and hypothermia are concerns.

The actual temperature will be around zero to five below zero Saturday evening. On Sunday, the high temps will only be in the teens.

• Related story: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Idle Your Car on Cold Mornings

Hartford/Tolland counties: The hazard includes “potential life-threatening wind chills” and near record cold air temperatures. Wind chills will be as low as 15 to 25 below zero with a few locations reaching 30 below zero.

“Windchills this cold can bring on frostbite in as little as 10 minutes,” the weather service states.

Air temperatures will fall to record cold levels of 5 to 15 below zero on Saturday night. The bitterly cold wind chill readings will ease Sunday night but it will still be very cold on Monday.

Tips for keeping you, your car and house safe via the National Weather Service:

• Cover exposed pipes to reduce the threat of frozen pipes or pipe bursts.
• Ensure your furnaces are in working order.
• Never venture outdoors without wearing gloves, a hat and several layers of clothing.
• Run water at a trickle and keep cabinet doors open to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Never use a stove or oven to heat your home or use an open flame to melt frozen pipes, which could lead to fires.
• Never use a generator near or inside your home.
• Check tire pressure and your car battery.
• Make sure to keep your pets warm and to limit how much time they are outdoors.

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