'Dangerously cold' weather forecast: Arctic chill headed for Cape Cod this weekend

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
·3 min read

Just when you thought winter might have forgotten about Cape Cod, a short blast of intensely cold weather is headed our way.

According to a Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service, "a dangerously cold airmass will be on our doorstep early on Friday as a deep trough digging into the eastern seaboard will deliver a shot of pure arctic air, the likes of which we haven't seen in years (Valentine`s Day of 2016 being the last time we saw cold of this magnitude)."

Temperatures are expected to be around or below zero for Cape Cod on Friday night, with wind chills of -20 degrees or lower. Brisk winds will accompany the frigid temperatures, with gusts rising to 40 mph.

Dangerous wind chill temperatures are expected on Cape Cod on Friday night into Saturday morning.
Dangerous wind chill temperatures are expected on Cape Cod on Friday night into Saturday morning.

"The cold air is really going to start coming into Cape Cod on Friday," said Kyle Pederson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Boston office. "The high temperature will be around 30 to 33 degrees at sunrise, and then the temperature will start dropping quickly."

The only slight silver lining to this dramatic dip in temperature is that it won't last long. While Saturday will still be cold (highs around 20 degrees during the day and lows around 11 degrees Saturday night), conditions will warm up by Sunday, when high temperatures are expected to be in the mid-40s.

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Precautions are advised during the cold snap. According to the National Weather Service, "people exposed to extreme cold are susceptible to frostbite in a matter of minutes. Areas most prone to frostbite are uncovered skin and the extremities, such as hands and feet."

Cold weather tips from the National Weather Service include: dressing in layers and wearing hats, gloves, facemasks and warm boots. If possible, adjust your schedule to avoid being outside in the extreme cold. If you must travel, make sure your vehicle has at least a half tank of gas so you can stay warm if you become stranded.

Tips on dressing for cold weather from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Tips on dressing for cold weather from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Here is the weekend Hyannis forecast from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a northwest wind of 23 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

Friday night: A chance of snow after 4 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around -5. Windy, with a northwest wind of 25 to 31 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 20. Windy, with a northwest wind of 21 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph.

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Saturday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 11. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph becoming southwest after midnight.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a south wind of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 34. Breezy, with a southwest wind of 20 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday: A chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind 15 to 17 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

Contact Eric Williams at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @capecast.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 'Dangerously cold' weather in forecast for Cape Cod this weekend