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Wind Chill Advisory: Record-Breaking Cold Temperatures Persist In Metro Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - For those hoping for a break in the frigid temperatures in metro Detroit...sorry.

The National Weather Service has issued another Wind Chill Advisory, in effect through 10 a.m. Friday.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Dave Bowers says the bone-chilling low temperatures have already broke — and will continue to break — records.

"We were at minus 5 (Thursday) morning for a record (breaking the one set in 1936)," Bowers said, "and then Thursday night the record is minus 8, set back in 1934. We're calling for minus 10 ... But it is gonna be a bitterly cold night."

The National Weather Service predicts it may get even colder than AccuWeather's forecast, saying the coldest wind chills of minus 15 to minus 20 are expected between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday.

The Weather Service says bitterly cold wind chills will lead to frost bite in 30 minutes or less, and prolonged exposure to this extreme cold will lead to hypothermia: " If you must venture outdoors... make sure you wear a hat and gloves."

After hundreds of local schools closed Thursday due to the cold, the school closings were rolling in as early as Thursday afternoon for Friday. All public schools in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties are closed.
[Check The School Closings List]

And while some parents have been grumbling about the trend of closing schools due to the cold — questioning why the kids can't just bundle up and saying that they never remember getting a day off because it was too cold —  Zachary Thuemmel, a Junior at Sterling Heights' Stephenson High School, doesn't want to hear it.

"We still have to walk to the building; like, it's very cold and we also have to think of the people who are standing at the bus stop," Thuemmel told WWJ's Sandra McNeill.

Bradly Ross, a Junior at Utica High School, concurs.

"Bundle up? If only that will work," he laughed. "I've had three layers on every time I go to school, and I'm still freezing each time. Like, my eyes water and then they freeze; the teardrops freeze on my face. That's how bad it is."

So, when it will it all end? Looking ahead a bit on Friday, Bowers said metro Detroit will get up to to a balmy 11 degrees. Although it'll warm up in to the 20s and 30s for the weekend, Bowers said to expect snow Friday night and Saturday — up to 4 inches in some parts of the region.

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

Thursday Night: Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Record low temperatures expected. Low -12F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Sunshine and some clouds. High 12F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Friday Night: Occasional snow showers. Low 8F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50% — about 1 inch expected.

Saturday: Cloudy with snow showers early and steady snow likely later in the day. High 33F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Saturday Night: Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 24F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: More clouds than sun. High 26F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Night: Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low -4F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.

For the latest forecast and more from the roads, stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 duringTraffic and Weather on the 8s, 24-hours a day.  Check live, local radar and the extended forecast HERE.

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