Cold wave ‘invading’ Charlotte, NWS says. Arctic blast brings frigid Christmas.
Due to a winter storm, at least 7,000 Duke Energy customers were without power early Friday morning in Mecklenburg County. Additional outages reported were statewide, with a concentration of problems in the North Carolina mountains.
A cold air mass barreling through Charlotte will likely bring hazardous weather over the holiday weekend.
An Arctic front is moving through the area Friday, which will result in “plummeting temperatures and gusty winds” over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS on Friday around 4:40 a.m. issued both a wind advisory and a wind chill alert, going into effect Friday 5 p.m. In it, meteorologists said a cold wave is “invading” the Charlotte region.
“The cold weather will result in high demand for electricity across the region. Power outages may result from the heavy electrical load and also from the gusty winds. Those who require electricity for medical needs should consider backup heat or electrical sources,” the bulletin said.
Christmas weather update
On Christmas Eve, it is expected to be sunny, with a high of 28 degrees and a low of around 15 degrees, according to the NWS forecast in Charlotte. Wind gusts up to 23 miles per hour are also predicted for Saturday.
The NWS predicted clear skies on Christmas Day, with a high of 35 degrees and a low of 18 degrees.
Will Charlotte be affected by the ‘bomb cyclone’?
While some areas of the Midwest and Northeast could see up to a foot of snow from a so-called bomb cyclone this weekend, there is no snow in the forecast for Charlotte, according to national weather forecasts.
Beware of frostbite and hypothermia
But with extreme cold its way toward Charlotte, that presents potentially dangerous and life-threatening situations for people left unprotected or without shelter.
Here are some tips from the NWS on how to avoid frostbite and hypothermia:
Adjust your schedule to avoid being outside during the coldest part of the day
Make sure your pets have plenty of food and water and are not overexposed to cold weather
Take precautions to make sure your water pipes don’t freeze
Fill up your gas tank before cold weather arrives
Dress for the outdoors even if you don’t think you’ll be out much
Hypothermia and frostbite can be caused by extended exposure to cold temperatures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness and slurred speech. Symptoms of frostbite include a white or yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm and numbness.
With exposure to wind speeds of 20 miles per hour in 20-degree temperatures, frostbite is possible within 30 minutes, according to the NWS. Hypothermia can occur in temperatures as warm as 60 degrees, but it is more likely if you are outside in cold weather without appropriate clothing, according to the NWS.
Any person who experiences symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite should seek medical attention immediately, the CDC advises.
Where to shelter in Charlotte during extreme weather
Beginning Friday, Charlotte homeless shelters will implement extreme weather protocol, which includes expanded hours and additional capacity at their facilities.
Roof Above’s Day Services Center, 1210 N. Tryon St., will be open until 4 p.m. through Sunday. The extended hours will include access to restrooms, hand-washing stations and outdoor heaters. The men’s shelter at the facility will open at 4 p.m.
The Salvation Army, 534 Spratt St., will provide shelter for women and families. The shelter can be accessed by calling 211, or by going to the site between 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Charlotte Area Transit System buses will provide free transportation to the two shelters. Riders must tell bus drivers their intended shelter location.
CATS routes 21, 22 and 26 will take riders to The Salvation Army, and routes 11 and 21 will take riders to Roof Above.
RELATED: In need of a warm place to stay? Here’s where to go during cold weather in Charlotte
This story was originally published December 22, 2022 at 11:53 AM with the headline "Cold wave ‘invading’ Charlotte, NWS says. Arctic blast brings frigid Christmas.."
