Bundle up buttercup and watch the chill factor! The National Weather Service out of Dodge City says we may not like the "chill" in the air this week.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Dodge City, the Ulysses and surrounding area is currently under a "wind chill watch." This watch was to begin late Wednesday night and will remain in effect through Friday morning.
According to NOAA, dangerously cold wind chills are expected as low as 50 below zero with subzero air temperatures and north winds gusting to 55 mph.
Areas expected to be impacted are central, south central, southwest and west central Kansas. Communities included in this watch are: Wakeeney, Scott City, Scott State Lake, Dighton, Ness City, La Crosse, Syracuse, Lakin, Deerfield, Garden City, Jetmore, Hanston, Larned, St. John, Stafford, Macksville, Johnson City, Ulysses, Sublette, Satanta, Cimarron, Montezuma, Dodge City, Kinsley, Lewis, Greensburg, Haviland, Pratt, Elkhart, Hugoton, Liberal, Meade, Plains City, Fowler, Ashland, Minneola, Coldwater, Lake Coldwater, Protection, Medicine Lodge, and Kiowa
The expected dangerously cold wind chills could "cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes", according to NOAA.
Kansas isn't the only one expecting adverse weather conditions. According to the National Weather Service out of Amarillo, Texas, the entire Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles are also expected to experience the "deep freeze" chill.
A wind chill watch is also in effect for those areas over the same time period. The Amarillo weather service is calling for wind chills a bit cooler than in Southwest Kansas, with those projected to be as low as 30 below zero.
Communities possibly effected by this weather include in Oklahoma: Guymon, Boise City, Keyes, Forgan, and Beaver and many others. Texas communities in the projection include: Amarillo, Stratford, Booker, Vega, Perryton, Canadian, Canyon, Dalhart, Shamrock, Spearman, Hereford, Follett, Gruver and Dumas, as well as many others.
The National Weather Service recommends the following precautionary actions/preparedness:
Stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat.
Wrap pipes with insulation and seal windows to avoid loss of heat from your home. Keep a slow steady stream of water running from indoor faucets, and open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around inside pipes.
Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.
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