CLEVELAND, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for a vast portion of the Great Lakes region, warning residents of life-threatening wind chills as low as 27 below zero. The warning, which takes effect at 7 p.m. this evening, remains in place until 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Forecasters warn that frostbite and hypothermia can occur in a matter of minutes on unprotected skin.
Critical Impact Areas
The warning includes the following counties:
Crawford, Richland, Marion, Morrow, Seneca, Knox and Ashland
Immediate Safety Recommendations
Authorities are urging residents to take immediate precautions to protect life and property:
- Personal Safety: If you must go outside, dress in several layers of loose-fitting clothing. Ensure a hat, face mask, and gloves are used to prevent skin exposure.
- Home Protection: To prevent water pipes from freezing and potentially rupturing, officials recommend wrapping exposed pipes, or allowing faucets to drip slowly to maintain water movement.
- Pet & Animal Care: Keep pets indoors. For outdoor livestock, ensure they have dry shelter, extra food, and access to unfrozen water.
- Community Check-ins: Residents are encouraged to check on elderly family members and neighbors to ensure they have adequate heat.
Local officials also remind residents to use portable heaters safely and never use generators or grills inside the home due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.