THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512100045
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
If shivering helps you get in the holiday spirit, you'll be singing Christmas carols all day today.
A strong cold front was expected to deliver a blast of arctic air today that, combined with some gusty winds, will make it feel as if it is near zero in this area and as cold as 25 degrees below zero just north and west of Richmond.
And it won't warm up much for a few days.
The National Weather Service issued a wind-chill advisory for most of the state. Wind chill is the combination of wind and temperature, a measurement of how cold they make it feel.
While the advisory does not include areas near the Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic coast, forecasters were warning residents to be cautious and dress warmly.
The extremely cold weather already covered much of the central part of the nation Saturday. Temperatures close to zero were recorded as far south as Texas as a huge swath of cold air pushed south and then began to edge east.
In Jordan, Mont., the mercury bottomed out at 22 degrees below zero Saturday morning. And wind-chill readings of more than 70 below zero were reported throughout the upper Midwest.
Such conditions are extremely dangerous. Exposed skin can freeze in seconds.
The cold front was forecast to cross the Allegheny Plateau on Saturday night and was expected to accelerate toward the coast overnight, passing offshore this morning.
It may not have the same bite by the time it reaches the mid-Atlantic, but ``temperatures will plummet,'' said Neil Stuart, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Wakefield.
Although it will be plenty cold enough for snow over most of the region, no precipitation is forecast.
Overnight lows were expected to be in the teens around Farmville and Louisa and in the mid- to upper teens in Ashland, Richmond and Petersburg. ``Winds will become northwest at 15 to 25 mph and gusty, producing dangerous wind chills,'' Stuart said.
Even when the temperature is in the 20s, gusty winds can quickly rob heat from exposed skin, resulting in the same dangers of frostbite and exposure one might face when the mercury is well below zero.
Areas north and west of Richmond may experience wind chills of 15 to 25 degrees below zero, Stuart said, while areas south of Richmond are expected to have wind chills of 10 to 20 below.
In the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, it will feel even colder, with wind chills of 30 to 45 degrees below zero possible.
``Areas of Virginia and Maryland around the Bay and along the coast are not in a wind-chill advisory,'' Stuart said. ``But temperatures will bottom out in the low- to mid-20s with wind chills plunging to the 0-to-minus-10-degree range overnight.''
The best defense against dangerous wind chill is to stay inside. If you must go outside, wear layers of clothing rather than a single heavy coat. Bring a hat, scarf and gloves or mittens to cover exposed skin.
The elderly can be very susceptible to severe cold weather. Also, pets kept outside should be brought in or checked to make certain they have adequate shelter.
The coastal areas should be insulated against the worst chills, thanks to an onshore flow of warmer ocean air, but people driving inland today should be prepared.
The Weather Service recommends that travelers take along a winter weather kit including several blankets, flashlights, flares and nonperishable foods in case of a breakdown in an isolated area.
If all this cold air is too much for you, there are a few warm places left in the country.
The warmest temperature Saturday afternoon in the Lower 48 was 83, posted simultaneously in Miami, Key West and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. by CNB