Arctic Blast Set To Deliver -16 Wind Chills to Fairfax

Sign up for the Fairfax City Patch newsletter!

After days of snow and wind chills bringing what many thought were cold temperatures to Northern Virginia, the area is now preparing to be hit by even colder air and possibly record-setting low temperatures Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for the entire region, beginning at midnight Wednesday night; it was extended today, to Friday at 10 a.m.

The cold air comes courtesy of what meteorologists call the “Polar Vortex,” a large region of low pressure that sits near the North Pole, according to the weather service.

Here’s the timeline for the deep freeze:

• Wednesday night: The coldest air of the season begins to hit the area starting Wednesday night, when lows are expected to hit about 9 degrees. Winds of up to 26 MPH will make it feel like -3.
• Thursday: The National Weather Service predicts Northern Virginia will see a high on Thursday of 16 degrees. With winds gusting up to 25 MPH, it will feel like -7, the weather service says.
• Thursday night: Temperatures could hit a low of -2, with wind chill values as low as -16, according to the NWS. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 18 degrees. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph.
• Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8.

The area pulls out of the deep freeze on Saturday with a high near 32 degrees (plus a 60 percent chance of a wintry mix).

Get ready for warmer temps on a rainy Sunday, when the high is predicted to hit a balmy 50 degrees.

Want to know more about the Polar Vortex? Here’s an explanation from the NWS, published in 2014:

While its theatrical-sounding name may have you picturing scenes from “The Day After Tomorrow”, the polar vortex is not some kind of formidable storm system nor is it anything new. It’s simply a large region of low pressure that continuously sits near the North Pole during the winter. It is caused by - you guessed it - the cold air up there. The term “vortex” simply refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that flows around this area of low pressure. This wind flow is strongest at the edge of the polar vortex and is what meteorologists refer to as the jet stream.

So why is the polar vortex a big deal? In essence, the strength of this system controls the jet stream which has big effects on our weather. If the polar vortex weakens and breaks into pieces, as it is doing now, the jet stream may buckle and allow low pressure and cold air to sink southward into the United States (you can consider this a piece of the polar vortex as indicated in blue on the map). This is why the Midwest is so cold this week and the East Coast just got hit with a snow storm. Conversely, where the jet stream surges northward, warm air and dry weather are the result. This is why California is experiencing a major drought this winter.”

Dominion Power offers these energy-saving tips during especially cold weather:

• Set your thermostat at a temperature at which you can be comfortable while wearing an extra layer or two of light clothing, such as a sweater. Set it at 68 degrees or lower.
• Change your air filter in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation. A clean air filter will increase the efficiency of your furnace.
• If you have a fireplace, make sure the flue is closed.
• If you are using the fireplace, turn down your thermostat. This prevents warm heat from escaping through the chimney.
• On sunny days, open the curtains or blinds to let sunshine in. Remember to close them after the sun goes down.
• If you have ceiling fans, operate them in reverse so they push the warm air back down.
• Close the heat registers and doors in rooms that are not being used.
• You can use towels or old blankets to seal areas at the base of exterior doors where heat often escapes.
• Increased humidity in your home helps you to feel warmer. Use humidifiers or bring a large pot of water to boil on your stove. Don’t forget to turn the stove off.

Safety tips:

• Check on elderly neighbors, relatives, and friends to be sure they are warm and safe.
• If using a kerosene or butane heater, make sure the room is well ventilated.
• If you are using an electric space heater make sure it is well away from flammable objects and that it has a safety switch to turn it off if it gets too hot or tips over.
• Bring pets indoors.

In case of an outage, call 866-Dom-Help (866-366-4357).