Wind Chill Warning Issued As Temps Drop Dangerously Low

DETROIT (WWJ) - A surge of arctic air has invaded metro Detroit, resulting in dangerously low temperatures and some of the coldest wind chills of the season.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Warning, in effect from 5 p.m. Saturday through noon Sunday for Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

"You'll want to bundle up this weekend," said CBS 62 Chief Meteorologist Jim Madaus. "That arctic air is just pouring right down through the Great Lakes area."

Madaus said temperatures will drop below zero by Saturday afternoon with gusty northwest winds producing wind chills of 25 below zero or lower by the evening. We could also see an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow.

It's so cold that even the Polar Plunge couldn't stand it. Special Olympics Michigan has canceled the Saturday event in Detroit for the safety and wellness of participants and dive team members. The "After Splash Bash," now being called the "No Splash Bash" is still a go, though. Plungers can pick up their shirts and enjoy a meal while awards will be given out for top fundraising and best costumes. A new date for the plunge is to be determined.

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Temperatures will bottom out between 10 to 20 below zero around sunrise Sunday with wind chills of 25 to 35 below zero, Madaus said.

"On Sunday, we'll struggle to get up into the single digits with a high of only 3 degrees," said Madaus. "Then on Monday, President's Day, 12 degrees the high after a morning low of 6 below zero."

The bitterly cold wind chills could lead to frost bite in less than 30 minutes, and prolonged exposure to the extreme cold could lead to hypothermia. If you must venture outdoors, be sure to cover as much skin as possible with appropriate winter clothing.

"Frostbite in this temperature can occur, literally, within 15 to 20 minutes. Basically, frostbite is any exposed skin can have local tissue injury from the cold, and if it's wet it happens even quicker," said Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital Emergency Doctor Glen Clark. "With hypothermia, people can become slow, they can become confused and initially they may shiver, just as a way for their body to make more heat. So, that's very concerning -- especially for the very young or the very old."

Here's the local forecast from the CBS Detroit weather team:

Saturday: Snow this morning will taper off this afternoon, but it will remain cloudy. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph; with occasional gusts over 40 mph. High 29F. Low -8F.

Sunday: Sunny along with a few clouds. Bitterly cold. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. High 4F. Low -9F.

Monday: Partly cloudy skies through the day will become overcast later during the night. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. High 11F. Low 5F.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy skies during the day followed by cloudy skies overnight. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. High 27F. Low 7F.

Wednesday: Cloudy. A few flurries are possible. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. High 12F. Low -2F.

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