Frigid temperatures expected for New Year’s celebrations

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Those heading out for First Night and New Year’s Eve celebrations across the Mahoning Valley this weekend should prepare for frigid weather.

Nick Greenawalt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland, said temperatures will be in the single digits with possible wind chills below zero at midnight.

“People should take caution and limit as much exposure to the outdoors as possible,” Greenawalt said.

The high for Sunday is forecast at 14, and the overnight low is 4.

Temperatures will drop into the single digits about 8 or 9 p.m. and are expected to fall to about 6 degrees at midnight.

With wind chill, it could feel as low as 6 below zero at midnight.

Eric Wilhelm, meteorologist at The Vindicator’s broadcast partner 21 WFMJ-TV, said there may be scattered snow showers, and drivers should allow extra travel time.

“When it’s that cold, it doesn’t take much to make anything slick,” Wilhelm said.

If people will be outdoors, Greenawalt advised them to wear multiple layers and limit skin exposure. He also advised those traveling to make sure they have booster cables, a flashlight, blankets and a charged cellphone.

“Just in case you get stranded out in that type of cold, you can keep yourself warm until help arrives,” he said.

The record low for New Year’s Eve in Youngstown is 6 below zero set in 1976.

New Year’s Day could be the coldest of the week, Greenawalt said, with a forecast high of 13 degrees and a low of 2.

That nears the record low of minus 1 set in 1969.

Greenawalt said those in the Valley should get used to such temperatures, at least in the short term.

Wilhelm agreed.

“There are no real signs of change until maybe late next weekend,” Wilhelm said.

“Until then, what you see is what you get. It’s pretty brutal.”