NWS: Arctic air to bring sub-zero wind chills

As Arctic air moves into the region, Connecticut is bracing for extremely cold temperatures this week, the National Weather Service said.

“Wind chills of 0 to 10 below zero are likely Tuesday morning and into early Tuesday afternoon for parts of the region,” the weather service’s New York office said in a bulletin Monday morning.

“Basically, this cold has been locked up from the upper Rockies to the upper midwest for the past few weeks and it’s finally being tapped,” said Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist at the Connecticut Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University. The air is being pulled into the region by a cold front that hit the state last night and a tropical low pressure Tuesday evening, “a two-step process,” Lessor said.

Ahead of the plummeting temperatures, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that he had activated the state’s severe cold weather protocol, which allows local authorities to coordinate sheltering people who need it. It’s the first time this winter the protocol has been activated.

“While we’ve had relatively mild weather so far this winter, it looks like we are about to receive our first blast of freezing cold air beginning this evening,” Lamont said in a statement. “Being outdoors in these arctic conditions for extended periods is not safe, and we must spread the word that shelters and warming centers are open all across Connecticut. If you or someone you know is in need of shelter, call 2-1-1 and they will direct you to a nearby location and they can also provide transportation if necessary.”

The freezing temperatures pose “a significant threat for poorly insulated pipes to freeze and burst,” the National Weather Service bulletin said. Those who have exposed pipes can let the water drip overnight to prevent freezing, Lessor said.

Wind chill warnings have been issued for parts of Vermont and upstate New York, but so far, no wind chill warnings are in place in Connecticut. The weather service has issued a freezing spray advisory for Long Island Sound east of New Haven from midnight through 7 p.m. Tuesday.

With temperatures expected to rise later in the week, Lessor suggested there’s no cause for alarm, and the temperatures are not unseasonably cold for Connecticut.

People who go outside should cover any exposed skin, he said, and pets should be brought inside for the next 48 hours. Drivers should make sure their gas tanks are at least halfway full, while homeowners with above-ground oil tanks should have them treated to prevent freezing, he said. Window air-conditioning units should also be taken out to prevent homes from wasting energy.

“If you haven’t really used a jacket yet this winter, you’re certainly going to need one tomorrow,” he said.