ALBANY – The National Weather Service (NWS) is continuing to predict frigid temperatures for the Mid-Hudson Region, including the issuance of a Cold Weather Advisory for the Hudson Valley through 10 a.m. today (Monday).
The advisory says in part that wind chill temperatures may reach as low as 15 to 25 degrees below zero, with wind chills as low as 25 to 29 degrees below zero in the higher terrains. With the dangerously cold wind chills as low as 15 to 29 degrees below zero, frostbite on exposed skin could occur in as little as 10 to 30 minutes. Hypothermia is also a possibility with the expected low temperatures.
It is recommended that people dress in layers and wear hats and gloves to reduce the amount of skin exposed to the air temperatures. It is also recommended to keep pets indoors as much as possible until warmer air returns.
The NWS forecast indicates that temperatures will reach into the 30s on Tuesday and remain there for most of the week, with nighttime temperatures falling into the teens.
Symptoms of frostbite include:
- Numbness.
- Tingling.
- Patches of skin in shades of red, white, blue, gray, purple or brown. The color of affected skin depends on how serious the frostbite is and the usual skin color.
- Cold, hard, waxy-looking skin.
- Clumsiness due to joint stiffness.
- Pain.
- Blistering after rewarming.
Hypothermia, a medical emergency, occurs when the core body temperature drops below 95 degrees. In hypothermia the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat. The average body temperature is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Symptoms of hypothermia include:
- Shivering.
- Slurred speech or mumbling.
- Slow, shallow breathing.
- Weak pulse.
- Clumsiness or lack of coordination.
- Drowsiness or very low energy.
- Confusion or memory loss.
- Loss of consciousness.
- In infants, bright red, cold skin.
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