Daniel Prince
Single-digit wind chills, gusts to 35-45 mph possible during the cold snap
While the forecast doesn’t look like we will have a white Christmas this year, it will feel a little like the North Pole Friday through Christmas weekend. Rain is in the forecast for overnight Wednesday night through early Friday morning. The rain will usher in an arctic air mass that will cause our temperatures to fall throughout the day Friday from a high in the upper 30s early Friday morning to temperatures in the 20s by afternoon. The low temperatures will dip into the lower-to-mid-teens Friday night. In addition, strong winds and wind gusts are expected Friday afternoon, dropping the wind chill values into the teens Friday afternoon and making it feel like the low single digits overnight.
The winds start to die down by Saturday afternoon, but the cold weather sticks around. The high temperature Saturday is unlikely to get above freezing, and the low Christmas Eve is expected in the mid-teens.
The Christmas Day forecast looks like sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-30s, and the low Sunday night in the mid-teens.
Due to the extended cold air in the area, the National Weather Service advises that poorly insulated or open pipes may freeze, so any steps you can take ahead of time to insulate your pipes and outdoor faucets would be recommended. In addition, the strong wind gusts could reach 35-45 mph Friday afternoon and evening, potentially causing some travel difficulties, downed trees, and power outages. Have a plan in place to stay warm in case of a power outage. WBCU News will be following the forecast closely and bring you the latest each day.