District Under Cold Emergency Starting Tonight
(Updated at 3:20 p.m.) It’s expected to be dangerously cold outside tonight.
A wind chill advisory from the National Weather Service is in effect from 10 p.m. today (Wednesday) through 8 a.m. tomorrow.
Additionally, the District Cold Emergency Plan will go into effect at 9 p.m., Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement issued this afternoon. Citizens are asked to help protect homeless people.
“If you see or know anyone who is homeless and in need of transport to warmth, please call 311 or 1-800-535-7252 for the Hypothermia Hotline,” police said.
The District issues a cold emergency alert whenever the temperature falls to 15 degrees or 20 degrees with precipitation.
From the National Weather Service:
…WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 AM EST THURSDAY…
* WIND CHILL…ZERO TO 10 BELOW ZERO TONIGHT.
* TEMPERATURES…ZERO TO 10 ABOVE.
* WINDS…NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.
* IMPACTS…DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.
