When Wind Chills Drop Way Below Zero: Hudson Valley Forecast

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — After a month of abnormally high temperatures, the region's going to slide into freezing starting Thursday evening and not come out until Sunday. As a result, everyone from the Red Cross to New York and county governments have issued tips for surviving the blast of beastly cold.

Wind chills could go as low as 25 below zero, the National Weather Service said.

Wind chill advisories go into effect from 10 a.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday for western Dutchess and eastern Ulster counties, and from 5 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday for Orange, Putnam, Rockland and northern Westchester. A hazardous weather outlook issued for southern Westchester says wind chills values may fall to as low as 10 below zero there.

The Red Cross sees a spike in home fire responses when temperatures drop. In fact, heating fires are the second leading cause of home fires.

Westchester officials reminded people whose homes get cold:

• Avoid tragedy: never use a natural gas or propane stove or your kitchen oven to heat your home.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using alternate heating sources like space heaters and wood burning stoves.
• Never place a space heater within three feet of anything that may catch on fire, such as drapes, furniture or bedding, on top of furniture or near water, and never cover your space heater.
• Never leave children or pets unattended near a space heater, fireplace or wood burning stove.

New York State officials remind people how to protect water pipes:

• When it's cold, let cold and hot water trickle at night from a faucet on an outside wall. Open cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or appliance near an outer wall. Make sure heat is left on and set no lower than 55 degrees.
• If you plan to be away, have someone check your house daily to make sure the heat is still on to prevent freezing, or drain and shut off the water system (except indoor sprinkler systems).
• If pipes freeze, make sure you and your family know how to shut off the water in case pipes burst. Stopping the water flow minimizes damage to your home.
• Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.
• Always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.
• Call a plumber and contact your insurance agent.

The Red Cross offers general cold-weather safety tips.

• Before tackling strenuous tasks in cold temperatures, consider your physical condition, the weather factors and the nature of the task.
• Protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible.
• Bring pets inside during winter weather. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COLD WEATHER PET SAFETY
• Make sure coats, gloves or mittens, hats, boots and warm clothing are available for all household members, along with extra blankets.
• Eat regular meals and stay hydrated, but avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.
• Eat regularly. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat.
• Check on relatives, neighbors, and friends, particularly if they are elderly or if they live alone.
• Keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.

Know how to recognize signs of frostbite or hypothermia.

"Certain populations, including the young and elderly, may not be able to judge accurately when their bodies are under stress and it is up to the rest of us to monitor them," said Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Alicia Pointer.

• Frostbite is when a part of your body freezes. Your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes often are the first affected. People may experience pain, numbness, and a change of skin color. Move to a warm place. Warm the affected area gently by soaking in warm water (NOT hot) until the skin appears normal and feels warm. Seek emergency medical care, the Red Cross advises.

• Hypothermia can kill you. It occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat. This causes a dangerously low body temperature. Older adults, babies, children, and people with certain health conditions are more at risk. Shivering is one of the first signs of hypothermia; other signs include confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech. What to do for hypothermia: Seek emergency medical care right away. Move to a warm place. Remove any wet clothing and warm the body slowly, the Red Cross advises.

In Poughkeepsie, after a Saturday morning low of -1, temperatures will rise into the low 40s on Sunday.

"Let's be honest, I think we can all handle it deciding to act like winter for 48 hours," Alex Marra of Hudson Valley Weather said on Facebook.

The next 48 hours, according to the National Weather Service:

What's the reason for the roller coaster?

"The polar vortex, which is a storm at the jet stream level of the atmosphere, has kept frigid air pent up above the Arctic Circle for much of the winter. When the polar vortex remains strong as it has been, frigid air cannot escape the Arctic. However, in recent days the polar vortex has weakened and stretched just enough to allow the bitterly cold air to move southward across North America," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.