Bitter cold and dangerous wind chills will continue through tonight. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory for Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, Cattaraugus, Allegany and southern Erie counties from 7 tonight through 7 a.m. Sunday.
Wind chills as low as 20 below zero are possible, the Weather Service said. No advisories have been issued for Genesee or Orleans counties, though wind chill values as low as 10 degrees below zero are possible overnight. Advisory criteria begins at 15 degrees below zero.
The Weather Service forecast has wind chill values as low as 10 degrees below zero for Sunday in Genesee County, and as low as 5 degrees below zero on Sunday in Orleans County.
The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
This is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder.
Lake effect snow showers will then develop east of the lakes later Sunday into Sunday night, otherwise dry weather expected for the first part of the work week with rising temperatures.
A wind chill advisory will also be in effect from 7 tonight until 10 a.m. Sunday for Steuben County.
Wind chills as low as 20 below zero are possible, the Weather Service said.
Other New York counties included in this advisory are Chenango, northern Oneida, Cortland, Tompkins, Chemung, Schuyler, Tioga, Yates, Onondaga, Madison, southern Oneida, Broome, Seneca and southern Cayuga.
The best way to avoid frostbite is to stay inside, while drinking lots of fluids to increase the volume of your body’s blood. Frostbite is more likely to affect individuals with poor circulation or who are not properly dressed for the weather, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some signs of frostbite are numbness, skin discoloration (grey, white, blue, or yellow), and waxy skin texture.
Until you can get indoors, don’t massage or rub frostbitten areas, drink warm liquids, put on extra layers, and remove anything tight such as rings and watches.
Indoor first aid requires the victim getting in a warm (not hot) bath and using warm towels to wrap the face and ears. Any contact with hot items, like heating pads or other heaters, could burn the victim before feeling returns.
Frostbitten skin can often cause blistering and swelling. If the blisters become blue or grey and the skin is alarmingly swollen or numb, get the victim to a hospital immediately.
Hypothermia, a condition marked by a dangerously low body temperature, is another serious cold-weather threat.
Individuals at increased risk for hypothermia include older adults with insufficient heat, clothing or food; babies sleeping in cold rooms; people who are outdoors for extended periods of time such as the homeless, hikers or hunters; and people who are drinking alcohol or using drugs, according to the CDC.
Signs of hypothermia include confusion, dizziness, poor coordination, severe shivering, exhaustion, and drowsiness. Contact emergency medical assistance immediately if a person’s body temperature drops below 95 degrees.
For immediate hypothermia care, remove the person’s wet clothing, wrap them in warm blankets, and provide warm (non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated) beverages until medical assistance arrives.
Make sure to dress properly if you are planning to be outdoors during this time.
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