FROM GARFIELD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The cold front is here and the ARCTIC AIR is oozing into the area. Temps will continue to fall throughout the day. After reading the guidance from regional NWS offices, snow looks to start up either later this morning or sometime this afternoon. Still thinking maybe 1-2 inches at the most, but it will be difficult to measure due to the winds.  After snow initiates, there may be areas where it appears that blizzard conditions may exist due to the winds. If you get out and are driving anywhere, visibility may be poor. Just be careful.

As I have stated all week, the snow isn’t the main issue, it’s the wind and low temps. Again, this is ARCTIC AIR and WIND CHILL will be dropping as the day wears on. Wind chill temps could bottom out around -15 below zero during the overnight hours. By later this afternoon “TODAY”, temps will be around 18 degrees with the wind chill around -5 below zero.

Just for informational purposes for those interested, here are the 4 degrees of frostbite;

  • First degree: The skin’s surface is frozen, known as frostnip.
  • Second degree: The skin may freeze and harden; blisters form in a day or two.
  • Third degree: Muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels freeze.
  • Fourth degree: Pain lasts for more than a few hours and skin may turn dark blue or black; gangrene is a real threat and will require amputation of extremities if it occurs.

Here is your forecast from the NWS/NORMAN

Saturday-Snow, mainly after noon. Areas of blowing snow after noon. Temperature falling to around 16 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -2. North wind 16 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday Night-40 percent chance of snow before 9pm. Patchy blowing snow before 9pm. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 1. Wind chill values as low as -11. North northwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

HAVE A SUPER DAY AND “STAY SAFE AND WARM”

MIKE

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