A dangerous cold snap is coming our way later this week after unseasonably warm weather for much of winter.
From Thursday night heading into the weekend, temperatures will drop to roughly 0 degrees or below around much of Vermont. Places like Rutland, St. Johnsbury, and Newport are expected to feel windchill approaching the negative 40s.
Stay up to date on the latest forecast with Eye on the Sky.
Meteorologist Scott Whittier with the National Weather Service says Vermonters should stay inside as much they can.
"When you're talking observed temperatures of 10 to 20 below zero and windchills of 20 to 40 below zero, that is dangerous, and that is substantial no matter how seasoned you may be," Whittier said. "You need to pay attention and take the proper precautions.”
[1/31 5 PM] A Wind Chill Watch is in effect for all of VT and northern NY from Fri 1 AM into Sat. Daytime temperatures of -10 to +5°F on Fri & Sat combined with NW winds will create dangerously cold wind chills of -15 to -30°F. Now is the time to prepare for the cold. #vtwx #nywx pic.twitter.com/tdZPQCxNMU
— NWS Burlington (@NWSBurlington) January 31, 2023
If you have to go outside, Whittier says to:
- Make it brief
- Wear layers
- Cover all extremities
Mark Bosma with Vermont Emergency Management also notes that if you need to drive anywhere, it's best to bring some extra blankets.
"It's a good idea all winter to have a couple of blankets in the car in case you get stuck somewhere due to engine failure or a minor accident," he said. "And during a cold streak like we're going to have this weekend, that's especially important.”
Keep the animals warm, too
For your furry friends, state veterinarian Dr. Kristin Haas says to monitor dogs or cats when they’re outside, and keep them indoors as much as possible, because they're susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite, too.
“Where they usually get that can be on their ears or tips of noses or muzzles — places where there is more exposure to the wind and the temperatures,” Haas said.
If you're outside and see your dog or cat shivering, acting tired or weak, trying to burrow or get under cover, that’s a good indication they’re too cold.
Haas says if you can’t bring a pet in your home for some reason, keep them in a shelter out of the wind that has a floor elevated off the ground, thick, dry bedding, and access to clean, fresh, unfrozen water.
And if you don’t have a reliable source of heat, make an emergency plan that includes your pets.
As for livestock, Haas has some pointers:
- Increase the roughage your animals eat (like hay).
- Don't lock up your animals in a space with no air flow — make sure they can get outside.
- Ensure they have water that's above freezing to prevent dehydration. (She suggests using a tank heater.)
What to do about heating
Bosma says Vermonters should figure out now whether they have enough heating fuel to stay warm, and check on neighbors and family members, too.
It's also important to make sure vents aren't blocked by snow or other objects, so that carbon monoxide can't come back inside the home.
Meteorologist Scott Whittier says if you do lose heat: "Do not use generators inside any structure, whether it's the home or the garage. Don't use cooking appliances as a source of heat, because in both situations, you have to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning.”
If you decide to use portable heaters, Whittier says to keep them away from anything that could be flammable.
And if you need a warm place to stay, you can check with your town officials or call 211 to learn more about warming shelters.
Many of the state’s warming shelters can accommodate pets, but call ahead of time to make arrangements, and be sure to pack a leash, food, medication, and a crate or cage if you have it.
How to keep your kids entertained
If you're feeling the chill this weekend and you've got young people hunkering down with you, why not check out our kids podcast, But Why?
Here are three good episodes to get you started on a listening binge:
- Ice Harvesting. This weather may not be great for outdoor activities, but it's excellent for helping the ice to thicken on Squam Lake in New Hampshire, where ice is still harvested the old-fashioned way. Learn about how people used to keep food cold before refrigerators were invented in this episode.
- Stay in the cold-weather spirit with this episode that explores how snow is made, why it's white, and how every snowflake can possibly be different. Plus, we visit the lab at Burton to discover why snowboards look like skateboards!
- If hunkering down with a movie and some popcorn is more your style, here's an episode that will help you better understand the magic of that beloved snack. In this "popcorn episode," you'll get to learn other cool things, too, like how zippers work, why rabbits change color in winter, and whether watching too much TV (on a frigid winter weekend perhaps?) will really fry your brain.
Looking for more activities to enjoy in the great indoors?
- You can also WATCH But Why! Our new YouTube channel has lots of fun videos that complement our episodes (or kids can listen to our episodes right from our YouTube page) and standalone videos from our series answering kids' questions about farm animals. All the videos were shot on Vermont farms!
- Dig into Freezing and Melting Bingo (English/Spanish) as a thematic opportunity to choose your indoor adventure.
- Check out the new Changing Seasons Collection in PBS LearningMedia which has activities, articles, videos, games and more (English/Spanish).
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message.
