Any club meetings or other activities scheduled outdoors, walking to classes, or going to work will be severely affected this weekend. This is set to be one of the coldest weeks in Vermont since 2015.
Dangerously cold wind chills are expected this upcoming weekend as an extremely strong high pressure is set to make its way south from the Arctic Circle towards New England, pulling bitter air and breezy conditions into the region. From the late morning on Friday through the early morning on Sunday, the temperature on campus is expected to be below zero, with wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour Friday and Saturday.
The National Weather Service in Burlington, our local branch, says that the feels-like temperature across Vermont will dip as low as negative 50 degrees early Saturday morning, including here on campus. This temperature is extremely dangerous. Anyone caught outside with exposed skin for as little as five minutes risks developing frostbite. Friday will also feature wind chill values during the day gradually falling below negative 40, which can cause frostbite after just ten minutes of exposure.
Preparing for the cold can make a difference in how people come out of this cold snap. The NWS advises staying inside unless there is an emergency. If you have to go outside, be sure to cover every inch of your body in multiple layers of loose, light, and warm clothes, including hats, gloves, and boots. Plans for outdoor activities such as skiing should be rescheduled since prolonged exposure can cause medical problems even when bundled up.
To stay safe in your homes or dorms, make sure all outside-facing windows and doors remain closed. Check seals to avoid cold air leaking into your residence, if possible, and keep warm blankets and layers on hand just in case. For those of you living off-campus, do not use anything that produces exhaust inside your home, such as generators or camp stoves, as dangerous gasses can build up and cause serious illness.
In the event of an emergency on campus, call 911 and Public Safety at (802) 626-6452.