Area bracing for record cold temperatures
Tri-State Area residents should be prepared for frigid temperatures Monday through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Colton Milcarek, a meteorologist with the agency’s Moon Township office, said area residents can expect the first brush of a cold front emanating from Northern Canada to arrive Sunday into Monday.
“We’re drawing down some arctic air from Canada,” he said.
Milcarek said the record minimum high temperature for this area on Jan. 21 is 12 in 2000 and the projected high temperature for Tuesday is 9.
Records for low temperatures for this area are incomplete, with a 35-year gap between 1953 and 1988, but this area experienced a low of minus 2 in 1924 in comparison to a low of minus 4 anticipated for early Tuesday.
Records aside, Milcarek said Monday is expected to be the most frigid of a three-day cold spell not expected to subside until Thursday.
He said temperatures on Monday are expected to reach no higher than 6 during the day and minus 4 late Monday into Tuesday.
As noted, the cold spell is likely to continue into Tuesday, with temperatures dipping to minus 10 late that night into Wednesday morning, said Milcarek.
Asked whether the wind chill factor will play a part, he said some wind is expected, with gusts up to 25 miles per hour anticipated on Monday and up to 20 miles per hour on Tuesday.
With the wind chill factored in, the high temperatures will be minus 10 by midday Monday and minus 5 by midday Tuesday, said Milcarek.
He said wind gusts are expected to diminish on Wednesday and Thursday, and high temperatures of 28 and 32 are projected for Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Milcarek noted those still are at or below freezing but are likely to feel warmer in comparison to the sub-zero air in the next few days.
Asked about the chance for snow up to Wednesday, Milcarek said cold air generally contains less moisture, resulting in less precipitation.
For this reason, the National Weather Service has predicted no snowfall after this weekend, when an inch or less of accumulation is anticipated.
“Nothing too dramatic,” said Milcarek.
Area residents without a warm place to stay because of a power outage or other circumstances may turn to local agencies offering temporary shelter.
Katie Kissinger, administrative assistant for the Friendship Room, said a large room there has been filled with chairs and cots and volunteers have stepped forward to man the area in the days ahead.
“All throughout the cold spell, we’ll have people here,” she said, adding the charity at 419 Logan St. in Steubenville welcomes donations of coats, hats, gloves, boots and warm socks to be distributed to those in need.
Kissinger noted the charity opened about 10 years ago to provide temporary shelter to homeless people and has expanded to meet other needs where possible.
The Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network also has established a warming center at its offices at Suite C, 1300 Potomac Ave. in Weirton.
Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, the center will offer hot chocolate and coffee to visitors and includes space for children to play.
Volunteers also are needed to help man it and those interested should call Rita Hawkins, resource and training specialist, at (304) 748-7850 ext. 1002.
Brooke County residents seeking shelter or with other weather-related issues also may call the Brooke County Sheriff’s Department at (304) 737-3660 for assistance.