A wind advisory is in effect until 8 a.m. Saturday, issued by the National Weather Service in Wilmington for south winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected.
These strong winds could snap tree limbs, leading to power outages, and blow around any unsecured objects.
Widespread rain will transition into scattered showers tonight as temperatures quickly fall below freezing. Overnight lows will be around 25 degrees.
Rain is expected before midnight, with rain and snow between midnight and 1 a.m. followed by a chance of snow. Accumulation of less than an inch is possible.
Strong winds continue Saturday. While gusts of up to 55 mph remain early in the morning, they will diminish slightly to 40 mph by the evening.
Saturday will start with temperatures in the middle to low 30s, but daytime highs will be in the 20s as colder air filters in. It will remain gusty well into Saturday night. The overnight low will dip to 9 degrees with wind chill values as low as minus 5.
Sunday through Wednesday, high temperatures will be well below freezing, low temperatures will be in the single digits and wind chill values will be below zero. Tuesday and early Wednesday are projected to be the coldest, with double-digit wind chills below zero.
As the temperature falls, pet owners are urged to keep pets indoors as much as possible, and to consider dressing them in a sweater or coat for outdoor activities to help retain their body heat, according to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.
To prevent pipes from freezing, set the thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees, open cabinet doors to allow heat to reach uninsulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls, and let a trickle of water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall, the American Red Cross recommends.
If the power goes out during extreme weather, report the outage immediately, turn off all appliances — including the furnace, space heaters, water heater and water pump — but leave one light on to know when power is restored, AES Ohio advises.
Also, keep the freezer and refrigerator doors closed. Food can stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a full freezer or a half-full freezer can keep food frozen for 24 hours if the door stays closed, the utility said.
Open blinds during the day, but cover windows with blinds or drapes at night. If indoor temperatures drop below 55 degrees, allow faucets to drip so pipes won’t freeze, AES Ohio said.
Sunday will be partly sunny with a high near 14 degrees and wind chill values as low as minus 8. Sunday night will be mostly cloudy with an overnight low around 7 degrees.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be mostly cloudy with a high near 18 degrees. There is a slight chance of snow after 4 p.m. and again after 7 p.m. Overnight will have a low around 7 degrees.
Tuesday which will be mostly cloudy with a high near 15 degrees. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy with an overnight low around 4 degrees.
Sunshine returns Wednesday, and though warmer it will still be well below freezing with a high near 21 degrees.
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