Get ready to weather winter’s worst

It’s been a week of brutal cold, getting deeper by the day—and here comes more.

Threatening frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, potential wind chills down to 45 below zero have prompted an extreme cold warning from the National Weather Service-Green Bay. It’s in effect from late last night to Saturday morning, and covers much of the Northwoods.

Kids in the School District of Rhinelander won’t need to face the dangerous chill to go to school today — although that’s thanks to a lucky quirk of the school calendar, with today already a no-school day at the end of the semester.

While these extreme conditions may feel like the most bitter cold to ever grip the area, past years are sitting chilly in the record books.

 Here’s the record cold that Minocqua and Rhinelander have racked up on today through Sunday’s calendar days in the century-plus that temperatures have been recorded: 

Minocqua:

1/23: High -16 (1963), low -36 (1963)

1/24: High -8 (1987), low -40 (1922)

1/25: High -2 (1904), low -40 (1904)

Rhinelander:

1/23: High -16 (1963), low -36 (1935)

1/24: High -4 (1922), low -38 (1935)

1/25: High -2 (1920), low -37 (1922)

Still, our current deep freeze is the coldest the area has been in a good decade.

The Northwoods River News’ Jeremy Mayo points out that the current forecasted high temp for today (-11 Minocqua and -10 Rhinelander) would be the coldest high temp recorded since 2014 for both Minocqua (Jan. 7, -18) and Rhinelander (Jan. 6, -17).

If you must go outside, the National Weather Service recommends dressing in layers, including a hat, face mask, and gloves. Pets should be kept indoors as much as possible.

Electric and natural gas provider Wisconsin Public Service also has some timely tips to help keep winter’s worst chill at bay. Here they are:

“Let the sun in: Open curtains or blinds when the sun is out to help warm your home. Close them at night to help retain heat and cut down on drafts.

“Prevent carbon monoxide dangers: Make sure carbon monoxide detectors are working properly and learn the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Oven safety: Never use a stove or oven to heat your home. Not only is it inefficient, it could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Keep your meters clear: Safely brush away snow and ice from your home’s natural gas meter and vents. The extra weight can stress or crack meter piping, causing a natural gas leak. It also can clog appliance vents, trapping carbon monoxide indoors.

“Space heater safety: Only use newer models with safety features like automatic shut-off. Keep space heaters at least 6 feet away from flammable materials like drapes or blankets. Plug heaters directly into the wall, not into extension cords or power strips. Place the heater on a flat surface away from children and pets.

“Safe sleeping: Turn off electric blankets when they are not being used. Keep pets away from electric blankets, as their teeth and claws can puncture wire insulation and cause damage.

“Heat your home efficiently: A few simple steps — such as sealing gaps around windows and doors, adjusting your thermostat and changing furnace filters — can keep homes cozy and energy bills down.”

In the meantime, there’s some warmth to be found in the forecast: This brutal cold is expected to give way to actual double-digit temperatures come Monday, and gradually climb in the coming days into the 20s. Compared to these brutal days of -20 and below, we’ll take it! 

Ardith Carlton may be reached at [email protected].