Andy Chase

Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service

...CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA- NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA- SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN NORFOLK MA- 400 AM EST THU JAN 15 2004

... WIND CHILL WARNING LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY FOR ALL OF INTERIOR MASSACHUSETTS...

AN OUTBREAK OF DANGEROUSLY COLD WEATHER WILL FOLLOW THIS MORNINGS DUSTING OF SNOW. LITTLE IN THE WAY OF ADDITIONAL SNOW IS EXPECTED NORTH OF THE MASS TURNPIKE... CERTAINLY NO MORE THAN AN INCH.

TEMPERATURES WILL PLUMMET TO RECORD LEVELS TONIGHT... IN THE 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO RANGE AND INCREASING NORTHWEST WINDS WILL DRIVE CHILL VALUES INTO THE VERY DANGEROUS RANGE OF MINUS 30 TO MINUS 40 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. THIS WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR VEHICLES TO WARM UP... CAN SAP BATTERY STRENGTH... INCLUDING CELL PHONES... AND IF CAUGHT IN EXPOSED RURAL AREAS WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTION... CAN BE LIFE THREATENING. IF YOU DONT HAVE TO TRAVEL LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY... IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU DONT.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS OUTBREAK OF BITTER COLD. IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS TO THOSE WHO WILL BE OUTSIDE... EVEN IF FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES WAITING FOR THE BUS FOR EXAMPLE. FROSTBITE CAN DEVELOP IN JUST 10 MINUTES WITH THESE TYPE OF CONDITIONS. DRESS IN MANY LAYERS AND WEAR A HAT TO COVER THE HEAD....