30 Below Wind Chills Possible This Weekend

A ”major outbreak” of arctic air is on the way this weekend, bringing bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills, the National Weather Service has warned in a Special Weather Statement.

Wind chills “could reach life threatening levels, as cold as 15 to 30 below, the NWS said. Sunday’s high temperatures will be in the teens throughout the Philadelphia region.

Temperatures on Saturday night and early Sunday will be around zero degrees or lower. Parts of the Poconos will experience temperatures around 12 below zero.

“Cold spells of this magnitude bring a risk of frostbite and hypothermia for anyone who does not take proper precautions,” the NWS said.

Frozen pipes are also a risk.

Here are some tips from the NWS:

• Do not go outside without gloves, a hat and several layers of clothing. Wind chill values in this type of weather could result in frostbite in less than 30 minutes.
• Check on your elderly neighbors to be sure they are okay.
• 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.
• Check tire pressure and your car battery. Be sure your car has a winter safety kit that includes a blanket and warm clothes.
• Do not leave pets outside.

Here is the forecast:

Tonight: Scattered snow showers, mainly before 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of flurries before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 15. Wind chill values as low as -9. Blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -1. Wind chill values as low as -17. Northwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 15. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9.

Monday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday: Snow likely before 9am, then rain and snow likely between 9am and 11am, then rain likely after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 45. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain before 9pm, then a chance of rain and snow between 9pm and 1am, then a chance of snow after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.