A single-digit cold snap is expected to stick around a while as heavy winds and a subzero chill factor swept through Cayuga County Monday.
"It's basically going to be cold all week," said Binghamton-based National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Lovejoy.
A wind-chill advisory was issued until 10 a.m. today. Overnight lows were expected to consistently register in the single digits and dip as low as minus 15 degrees with the wind chill.
"The winds are expected to subside by the middle of the week," Lovejoy said, expecting an end to advisories by then.
However, there were no warming trends to suggest temperatures would get much higher than the low 20s.
While schools called classes off, it was a dangerous start to the week for workers who have no choice but to be outside.
"Obviously, you try to leave as little skin exposed as possible," Auburn city Sanitation Supervisor Michael Talbot said.
While the bitter winds and slick footing tend to make the job more difficult, the four refuse collection crews bundle up and keep the morning shift short.
"If it does anything, it probably speeds it up so they're spending the least amount of time possible outside," Talbot said.
As regular, mid-winter cold snaps threaten to freeze dairy farms' automated manure and drinking water systems, farmers like Kelly O'Hara at Oakwood Dairy in Aurelius take standard precautions like firing up electric heaters in their water tanks to keep the drinking water flowing.
"We expect this type of cold to happen around early January," O'Hara said, adding the heated milking parlor's insulated locale keeps the milk flowing as well.
A change in the cows' diets help them conserve body heat in the winter months.
"Their own energy produces enough heat to keep the barn from freezing," O'Hara said.
Others can't help but be out in bad weather.
National Grid crews were taking care of some outages, including about 2,000 customers in the town of Skaneateles Inclement weather, like the high winds Monday, and repairs go hand-in-hand.
"When something goes wrong we have to be out there," National Grid spokesman Alberto Bianchetti said. "We remind our field crews to keep safety in mind."
Heavy layers and frequent warm-ups are a sound strategy for anyone spending time outside in these conditions, Auburn Memorial Hospital emergency room doctor Leah Weinberg said.
"The danger depends on how well dressed you are and how much time you're exposed," Weinberg said. "Anything below freezing is potentially a problem."
"Listen to your body," she said.
In addition to frostbite cases, patients are also admitted with carbon monoxide poisoning brought on by poor ventilation or malfunctioning space heaters, she said.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg contributed to this report.
A wind-chill advisory was issued until 10 a.m. today. Overnight lows were expected to consistently register in the single digits and dip as low as minus 15 degrees with the wind chill.
"The winds are expected to subside by the middle of the week," Lovejoy said, expecting an end to advisories by then.
However, there were no warming trends to suggest temperatures would get much higher than the low 20s.
While schools called classes off, it was a dangerous start to the week for workers who have no choice but to be outside.
"Obviously, you try to leave as little skin exposed as possible," Auburn city Sanitation Supervisor Michael Talbot said.
While the bitter winds and slick footing tend to make the job more difficult, the four refuse collection crews bundle up and keep the morning shift short.
"If it does anything, it probably speeds it up so they're spending the least amount of time possible outside," Talbot said.
As regular, mid-winter cold snaps threaten to freeze dairy farms' automated manure and drinking water systems, farmers like Kelly O'Hara at Oakwood Dairy in Aurelius take standard precautions like firing up electric heaters in their water tanks to keep the drinking water flowing.
"We expect this type of cold to happen around early January," O'Hara said, adding the heated milking parlor's insulated locale keeps the milk flowing as well.
A change in the cows' diets help them conserve body heat in the winter months.
"Their own energy produces enough heat to keep the barn from freezing," O'Hara said.
Others can't help but be out in bad weather.
National Grid crews were taking care of some outages, including about 2,000 customers in the town of Skaneateles Inclement weather, like the high winds Monday, and repairs go hand-in-hand.
"When something goes wrong we have to be out there," National Grid spokesman Alberto Bianchetti said. "We remind our field crews to keep safety in mind."
Heavy layers and frequent warm-ups are a sound strategy for anyone spending time outside in these conditions, Auburn Memorial Hospital emergency room doctor Leah Weinberg said.
"The danger depends on how well dressed you are and how much time you're exposed," Weinberg said. "Anything below freezing is potentially a problem."
"Listen to your body," she said.
In addition to frostbite cases, patients are also admitted with carbon monoxide poisoning brought on by poor ventilation or malfunctioning space heaters, she said.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg contributed to this report.
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